FOSTER DEFIANT

'STICK WITH US' PLEADS BOSS AFTER FIFTH DEFEAT IN SEVEN

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

IAN Foster has said he understands the frustrations of the Green Army after Plymouth Argyle's recent slump in results but called for them 'to stick with us!

Just two months after his appointment as head coach, Foster is coming in for increasing criticism from fans not only for the Pilgrims' run of five defeats in the last seven games, which has seen them dragged into a Championship relegation fight, but also for the quality of the performances.

The latest setback for Argyle saw them beaten 1-0 by 23rd-placed Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough last night, They remained in 16th position but are now only two points clear of the Owls in a very congested bottom half of the table.

The only goal was scored by Djeidi Gassama in the 60th minute and came after Argyle midfielder Adam Forshaw slipped and lost the ball to Ike Ugbo deep inside his own half.

Foster (inset) said the mood in the Argyle changing room afterwards was one of bitter disappointment.

He continued: "We didn't feel it was a game we ought to have lost. It's really unfortunate the manner of the goal.

"Adam has made a honest mistake. He should have cleared his lines and unfortunately he has slipped over and they have scored on the transition.

"Second half I thought the team were perfect in terms of their approach. I thought we bossed the second half and I can't believe we have come away having lost the game.

"We are really disappointed with a couple of big moments in the game. I think we should have had two penalties. The first one in the first half where Lewis Gibson has been dragged down to the ground from a corner.

"The referee (Stephen Martin) said he didn't hold him for long enough, I don't know what that means, and then there is a handball in the second half as well. So we are really disappointed with the performance of the referee but not with the players."