Cleverley hails Boateng after 'most important' goal
Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley says Malachi Boateng's equaliser in the derby with Exeter City was the "most important goal" of his side's season.
Malachi Boateng's goal ensured Plymouth Argyle avoided a double of league defeats by Exeter City [Shutterstock] Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley said Malachi Boateng's equaliser in the Devon derby against Exeter City was the "most important goal" of his side's season. Boateng struck in the 88th minute as the Pilgrims drew level for the second time in the 2-2 draw at Home Park. The point was not enough to move Argyle back into the play-off places, but keeps their recent good run going - they have now lost just one of their past eight matches.
"It's without doubt our most important goal this season," Cleverley said. "That would have not only lost us another point today, but the atmosphere that creates, the edginess, that then breeds into the dressing room. "Losing two derbies in a season - you saw the effect that the first one had on us, so that goal is huge.
" Plymouth and Exeter play out dramatic Devon draw The point means Argyle still have work to do if they are to finish in the top six. But Cleverley said the impetus his side have had in recent weeks has not been lost thanks to Boateng. "Yes, we've dropped two points, it wasn't anywhere near our best performance of the season, but we've not completely lost momentum.
"We've jolted momentum a little bit, but we've not completely lost it. "I still say nine points out of 12, and 72 [in total] - you've got to be unfortunate from the picture that was looking like 72 would definitely get you in. "The margin for error is even smaller now, but the momentum is not completely lost.