'REALLY PROUD'

KEVIN NANCEKIVELL: IT MEANS THE WORLD TO EVERYBODY AT PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

KEVIN Nancekivell was full of praise for the way Plymouth Argyle’s players handled the huge pressure as they produced a stirring performance to clinch Championship safety.

The Pilgrims’ long-time first-team coach admitted he was ‘really emotional, really proud’ after the season-ending 1-0 victory over Hull City at a jubilant Home Park.

Birmingham City’s 1-0 home win against Norwich City meant Argyle had to win to stay up, and they did just that after a 40th-minute goal from ‘Captain Fantastic’ Joe Edwards.

The tension was almost unbearable towards the end of the second half, with the Pilgrims knowing that one late slip could see them drop down into League One, but they held onto their precious lead until full-time.

The sound of the final whistle was the cue for thousands of celebrating members of the Green Army to pour onto the pitch and engulf their heroes in all-green. 

Nancekivell said: “It was stressful but that was always going to be the case wasn’t it? I thought the lads were brilliant today. That was one of our best performances for a few months, especially with the type of pressure they were under.