Cleverley still has play-off target for Plymouth
Tom Cleverley's side had been on a five-game unbeaten run before losing at home to Bolton Wanderers [Shutterstock] Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley says his side can still reach the League One play-offs, despite losing to third-placed Bolton Wanderers. The Trotters - who played most of the game with 10 men - were 2-1 winners at Home Park as they consolidated third place. Meanwhile Plymouth dropped to ninth in the table and are now three points off the top six.
"What I must reinforce is we've got a total in our minds," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon. "It was never going to be the case that we win every game from now to the end of the season. "We've got a total in our minds, we've made it more difficult for ourselves to reach that total, but we're still in with a chance of reaching that total.
" The game saw former Argyle boss Steven Schumacher return to Home Park for the second time since leaving the club for Stoke City in December 2023. The Pilgrims travel to 13th-placed Barnsley on Monday before hosting relegation-threatened Devon rivals Exeter City next Saturday as they try and get back into the play-off places with six games to go. "We understand the sentiment around today with Schuey coming back and we understand the sentiment around next Saturday," Cleverley added.
"But ultimately we have a points target that we must get to, to get into the play-offs. "I think four wins and a draw could be the total, so we have to work as hard as we possibly can, not get too disheartened by today although it'll hurt - and let their celebrations be motivation for our players. "Sometimes seeing things that you don't necessarily want to see really gets a fire burning in your belly and I certainly got that at the end.
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