Plymouth boss Lowe lauds striker Grant as Plymouth down Carlisle

Posted Sunday, October 20, 2019 by PA

Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe hailed in-form striker Joel Grant after his first-half strike helped Argyle climb up to eighth in League Two with a 2-0 home win over Carlisle.

Grant struck for the third successive game to put Argyle ahead before Antoni Sarcevic wrapped up the points with a second goal in stoppage time.

Lowe, whose side are now unbeaten in four league games, said of the win: “It’s always hard work when you want to get three points and it was no different today. You have got to work hard in this league and you can’t underestimate anyone.

“But overall I am pleased. Three points. Move on quickly.

“We were on it and on the front foot.

Grant continued his good run in front of goal when he slid in to send George Cooper’s pinpoint cross spinning over United keeper Adam Collin after 22 minutes.

Lowe added: “Joel’s been fantastic for us. He knows what we want and that’s goals. And when you get goals I always want more.

“Joel’s got three in three and he’s on a good run at the moment.

“He’s got good technique and good composure.

“I want him to shoot more but he’s worked his socks off an got in some great positions and that’s what we want from him – and why he gets goals.”

Plymouth had to wait until the end to secure the points, with Sarcevic finishing off Carlisle’s fading hopes when he blasted home from the edge of the box.

“We knew it was going to take a little while to get that second goal,” said Lowe.

“I always say when we’ve won there’s little nitty-gritty bits I’ll pick out.

“Small details, which they take on which is brilliant. But those things are the things we have got to get better at.

“I thought we managed the game a lot better than we have in recent games.

“But finish off in style like we did with Antoni Sarcevic’s goal at the end of the game was excellent.”

Carlisle have now lost four of their last five league matches and find themselves in the bottom five.

Despite that, manager Steven Pressley felt there were plenty of positives to take away from the long trip south.

He said: “From 18-yard box to 18-yard box we were excellent today. We carried out the work that we had planned really well. The tactical details and the players’ attitude was excellent.

“What let us down was our final pass, our final moment when we created opportunities and also one moment in the first half when we didn’t defend a bread and butter moment.

“That aside, the players were at it, they were aggressive in a lot of our play against a very good team.

“We came here, gave a good account ourselves and we leave with nothing. The two centre-backs that came in today did really well in the game, we worked tirelessly as a team and I was pleased with many aspects.

“But we have lost the game and I understand as a manager that you are generally judged by results. I am a manager that is improving the players and moving forward. Once we keep improving the results will come.

“I thought our decision-making in the final moments was a disappointing factor today because a lot of our other play was very good. We hit the bar twice and when the luck is going with you, it goes with you.”