Plymouth Argyle are riding high after four victories in the last five League One matches, but head coach Tom Cleverley has emphasised the need for his side to remain focused ahead of the run-in.
Speaking in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s play-off face-off against Reading, the 36-year-old praised the influence of his senior figures both on the pitch and in the dressing room.
Rooted to the bottom of the table in mid-November, a remarkable turnaround has propelled the Pilgrims to within three points of the top six. Midfield playmaker Caleb Watts has insisted that the team is as united as they have ever been and is confident that they will complete the job.
Having timed their charge perfectly, Argyle appear determined to stay grounded, with their buoyant head coach urging everyone to take nothing for granted.
Hardest Work Still To Come
Few could argue that the Devon outfit’s revival isn’t shaping up to be one of the EFL’s most compelling stories this season, especially if they manage to muscle their way into the play-off shake-up. They’ve earned the right to stake their claim for promotion, and with the fixtures falling as they have, Plymouth Argyle arguably hold their destiny firmly in their own hands.
The tenth-placed side’s next five matches pit them against teams above them in the table, including pivotal clashes with Reading, Stevenage, and Huddersfield Town, all direct rivals in the battle for those coveted play-off spots.
Their Mancunian boss knows full well that their promotion aspirations hinge on their performance over the next critical few weeks.
“Momentum is one of those things, it’s tough to get hold of, and easy to lose. We have to work harder than ever now. No complacency, which I’ve seen no hint of.” Tom Cleverley Via Plymouth Argyle Social Media
Their recent 5-2 dismantling of automatic promotion favourites Cardiff City at Home Park was enough evidence to breathe confidence into the Green Army that their team can beat anybody on top form.
No one will relish playing the free-scoring Pilgrims right now, but as the competition ramps up, the true test of this team’s promotion credentials is about to begin.
Recovering Players Could Still Have A Decisive Say
With a relentless catalogue of injuries drowning Argyle this season, their rapid rise up the table is all the more astounding. A gratefully received saving grace amidst their bad luck is the determination of others to step up in the absence of key players.
While Lorent Tolaj’s goals at the start of the campaign were the only thing keeping the team’s heads above water, losing him to injury hasn’t ultimately cost them too much. That is down to the emergence of Bim Pepple’s prolific form. The Canadian has netted ten league goals in 2026, making ample use of his teammates’ creativity.
Speaking to the media prior to Saturday’s trip to Reading, Cleverley revealed plenty of positive injury news.
“For Stevenage, we’re expecting Brendan Galloway, Conor Hazard, and Ayman Benarous back. For Lorent Tolaj, it’ll be Huddersfield.”
“On Matty Sorinola, it doesn’t look like surgery is needed. We’re likely to see him again this season.”
As the hectic Easter weekend looms, and the season’s accumulated fatigue begins to weigh down on squads, the return of fresh players from the sidelines could decisively shift the balance of power for EFL clubs.
Should Argyle’s coaching team successfully reintegrate their well rested players, without disrupting the sides electric form, there is every chance that they will maintain their formidable presence in the seasons remaining weeks.
The Value of Seasoned Players In The Dressing Room
It may have taken longer than initially hoped, but the significantly changed squad that began this season has formed into a cohesive unit, now appearing every bit capable of securing promotion.
A player who has been singled out for praise by his head coach is Wes Harding. Cleverley described him as an additional captaincy figure, comparing him with club captain Joe Edwards, who has established a strong affiliation with the club during his seven-year stint in Devon.
“He’s a fantastic character. He was in the dressing room on Tuesday and was as much of a leader as Joe Edwards was. I want players in and around it, for their off-field input, even while they’re not able to play.”
At the time, the deadline-day loan acquisition of the 29-year-old from Millwall, alongside Herbie Kane from Huddersfield, felt like a particularly astute piece of business. And so it has proved, with the Jamaican proving to be a versatile defensive option, capable of unifying the team with his words on the training pitch as much as with his defensive acumen on matchdays.
Regardless of what unfolds between now and May, the future on the pitch at Home Park looks promising, and the 2025/26 season will be remembered as a rare testament to the benefits of patience and the rewards of placing confidence in a young coach.
