Argyle focused on securing Championship safety

PLYMOUTH Argyle are ‘fighting like crazy’ to achieve their goal of staying in the Championship, director of football Neil Dewsnip has declared.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

The Pilgrims gave their survival prospects a huge boost by beating promotion-chasing Leicester City 1-0 at Home Park last Friday but Dewsnip has stressed they are not safe yet. Taking another step towards that target is what he is focused on, rather than the fact that former Pilgrims’ boss Steven Schumacher will be in the opposition technical area for the away game against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium today.

The pair go all the way back to when Schumacher was aged eight and he was coached by Dewsnip in Everton’s youth set-up, and later played under him at England youth level.

“It’s a long time, it makes me feel really old,” said Dewsnip about his close links to Schumacher, who left Argyle for Stoke in December, along with his backroom staff of Darren Behcet, Peter Cavanagh, Mark Hughes and Elliot Turner.

Now, Dewsnip is facing the prospect of coming up against Schumacher as Argyle fight for more precious points in their bid to avoid relegation to League One.

Dewsnip said: “First and foremost, and I can’t speak for Steven you will have to ask him, my focus is very much on Plymouth Argyle and our team.