Sturrock Remains Faithful To Doncaster Flops

Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock looks to keep the faith with the majority of his players despite going down at home to Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.

The Pilgrims were soundly beaten at the weekend as goals from John Spicer and James Hayter were added to by Paul Heffernan`s effort as Doncaster Rovers cantered to victory at Home Park.

It was a result that was all the more perplexing when you consider that Argyle picked up a useful away win over Blackpool (1-0) before drawing at Birmingham City (1-1), results which sandwiched the sound 4-0 thrashing of Coventry City at Home Park.

It was these results that has prompted the Scotsman to come out and defend his players as he looks to make only minimal changes to his side on Saturday.

'I'm quite prepared to give the players the opportunity to redeem themselves after the disappointment of last Saturday,' Sturrock told the Plymouth Evening Herald.

'I'm hoping this has been a wake-up call of the situation we're in and that the players will go out and rectify the problem on Saturday.

Sturrock publicly criticised Jamie Mackie and Ashley Barnes following the weekend defeat primarily for their lack of movement and that was something Sturrock admitted was not typical of his management style.

He feels that players such as Mackie and Barnes have earned themselves a chance to prove their worth in recent fixtures as he expects a big improvement for the penultimate clash of the season.

"There will not be many changes to the team for this Saturday's game at QPR.

'I think it's only appropriate that these people, who took us through a pretty difficult time, are given a second chance.

'There might be one or even two changes, but the team will be along the same lines (as the Doncaster line-up).

'I'm not a great believer that I should be castigating my players,

'But in the heat of the moment it can be exasperating and left me feeling annoyed."

Queens Park Rangers take on Plymouth at Loftus Road on Saturday April 25 in the final game of the campaign in W12.

For Argyle the threat of relegation still looms large as they know defeat in England`s capital may take the race to stay in the Championship to the final day.

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