Interim Plymouth Argyle manager Kevin Nancekivell spoke of his delight after winning a “highly pressurised” relegation scrap against Rotherham United on Friday.
Nancekivell, along with director of football Neil Dewsnip, took temporary charge of the team for the second time this season after manager Ian Foster was sacked on April 1st. The former England Under 20s boss managed just three league wins in his three months in charge.
The Pilgrims travelled to The New York Stadium sitting a point above the bottom three following a run of one win in their last twelve and therefore in desperate need of all three points. Despite the pressure, and with the rest of the division nervously watching on before their games today, a Bali Mumba goal was enough for Plymouth to get their job done.
As for Rotherham United, it was the result that sealed their relegation back to League One, something in truth that has been inevitable for several weeks as they have found only four victories throughout the campaign. Leam Richardson and his staff can now begin planning for life in the third tier next season as they will hope to bounce straight back up.
Plymouth though, now with five games to play, are well and truly still in the fight. Nancekivell couldn’t hide his pride post-match:
“It has been a tough week, a traumatic week for everybody at the football club so to come and get three points is massive for us, so really delighted,” he said, via Plymouth Live. “It’s a feeling of relief, but really pleased. It’s only three points, we have still got a lot of work to do but we will enjoy tonight and then look forward to QPR (at Home Park) on Tuesday.”
“There was a lot on the game. It was high pressurised and sometimes when those games happen you lose a little bit of quality. We just had that little bit of quality with the pass and the finish that separated the teams.”
The 52-year-old was also keen to thank the travelling Pilgrims supporters:
“They travel everywhere, it’s not uncommon so I wasn’t surprised what I saw tonight because they travel everywhere in their numbers.
“They will be getting home in the early hours of Saturday morning. Some people won’t have been here because of work, but there are thousands and thousands of people all over the West Country watching on telly and cheering us. All I can do is thank them for everything they do for the football club.”
Writer’s View:
With Plymouth Argyle being as ambitious as they are, they may have had higher hopes than being in a relegation dogfight this season, but as the Championship begins to draw to a close, that’s exactly what they’re in. Any away win at this stage of the season is crucial and to give themselves a gap before their competitors play today will be a big mental boost in a changing room that has been through a rough week.
They do not have long to celebrate though as they have another mammoth fixture on Tuesday as they host Queens Park Rangers at Home Park. Nanekivell will be hoping to pull off something neither of the two permanent managers have achieved this season, winning consecutive league games. Staying up is their only priority from now until early May, and while there is a long way to go, they’ve put in a good marker for how they’ll hope the rest of their run-in pans out.
