Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe: We’re a work in progress

Manager Ryan Lowe admits his pace-setting Sky Bet League Two side Plymouth are still a “work in progress” despite getting off to a flying start.

Argyle followed up their best-ever opening day away league win – a 3-0 victory at Crewe last weekend – with a solid 1-0 home triumph over Colchester in front of 10,542 at a windswept Home Park.

Lowe admitted: “It really started last week, but I understand it’s the first home win in front of a fantastic crowd.

“I’ll keep saying it as long as the season’s on: We are not getting carried away.”

Midfielder Antoni Sarcevic atoned for a first-half miss by smashing in the Greens’ 57th-minute winner following a superb sweeping move started by Argyle’s new playmaker Danny Mayor.

The home side could have already been ahead as substitute Dom Telford’s thumping strike beat United goalkeeper Dean Gerken but crashed off the post.

Lowe added: “There are still some parts that we need to work on.

“We are getting in the right areas, we are creating chances – which is always good.

“The defence was solid. Scotty Wootton was magnificent. He’s come into his own and forming that relationship with Niall Canavan and Gary Sawyer.

“And when you’ve got a keeper like Alex Palmer who comes and collects balls from the sky, it always helps.

“The wing backs – Callum McFadzean and Joe Riley – are in that as well, on their defensive duties they were perfect and Joe Edwards comes and was mopping up.

“We’ve asked Joe to do a little bit more going forward. He knows.

“I felt the first half my attacking lads weren’t giving me as much as I’d like, but second half we got into them and they gave us it.

“It’s always nice to keep clean sheets and the lads who are on clean sheet bonuses are happy.

“Defensively, out of possession we are looking fine. Attacking play? We’re nearly there.

“But – again – we are only a week into the season now and we will keep working and keep building. My standards are always so high. I will always want more.

“But listen, two wins, two clean sheets – I couldn’t have asked for a better start.”

Colchester boss John McGreal – who, like Lowe, hails from Liverpool – said: “We have been here before.

“Tactically I thought we were spot on and we caused them problems at times. I thought we nullified everything that they had.

“We started the second half particularly well and the goal was against the run of play – people getting back in shape.

“It took a little bit of wind out of our sails for five to 10 minutes but I thought we grew again. The subs came on and affected the game in a good way and it is bitterly disappointing to have lost the game.

“The fans were applauding the players coming off because these (Argyle) were the pre-season favourites and they have come up against a team today that they have done well to get the three points against.

“The goal came from sloppy defensive play shape wise and then we grew into the game again.

“I have said to the boys again, it is about that quality. Their keeper has done well, he is a big, commanding keeper and he has done alright. I want more. We were in control and it is about that final pass or final cross.

“I wanted to put in a performance, we got the performance but we didn’t get the result. A lot of hard work has gone into today.

“We had that one golden opportunity that we didn’t take but keep going.

“We came to a team who are expected to win the league and we are bitterly disappointed to come away with nothing.”