ROTATION PAYS OFF

SCHUMACHER'S BELIEF IN CHANGE WINS ARGYLE PROMOTION

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

STEVEN Schumacher stuck to his belief throughout this season that rotating his Plymouth Argyle side would pay off in the end and after their automatic promotion to the Championship has has been proved right.

The Pilgrims’ boss would regularly make several changes to his starting line-up even when they were on an excellent run of results.

Nowhere was that more obvious than in attack, where the trio of Niall Ennis, Ryan Hardie and on-loan Birmingham City striker Sam Cosgrove were all in and out of the team.

Central midfield was another area where Schumacher’s rotation policy was a major factor, with two of the quartet of Matt Butcher, Jordan Houghton, Adam Randell and Sunderland loan signing Jay Matete selected.

It worked, though, as Argyle surged towards automatic promotion and potentially the League One title with a run of 10 wins in their last 12 games.

Compare that to last term when the Pilgrims agonisingly missed out on a play-off place after a 5-0 final day drubbing by MK Dons at Home Park, and a run of just one win from their last seven fixtures.

Ennis, in particular, has finished this term very strongly, getting a goal in each of the last three games, including the goal which clinched the promotion-sealing 1-0 victory over Burton Albion on Saturday.