Plymouth boss keen to keep attacking ethos

At Home Park, Finn Azaz’s third goal of the year gave Argyle a 2-1 lead over Middlesbrough.

Following their 3–3 draw with Middlesbrough, Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher says he won’t alter his team’s aggressive philosophy.

They are the team in the Championship with the most goals scored outside of the top two, with 26 this season.

However, only three sides have given up more goals than Argyle has allowed in 25 games.

“We always say to the players to try and be positive and get on the front foot, try and enjoy the game and try and be exciting,” Schumacher stated.

“I know that will sometimes leave us vulnerable, and I know we can defend better and commit less mistakes, but we also need to keep in mind the players we have, and not many of them have experience playing at this level.

“We don’t have nearly the same level of experience as Middlesbrough or many other Championship teams.”

“We’re getting better and we can only learn and develop, so that’s what I want them to do, that’s what I believe in and hopefully that’s what our fans like to see.”

For the seventh time this season in the league, the Pilgrims scored three goals or more, led by two outstanding goals from Finn Azaz and Bali Mumba in the first half.

“If that’s a Premier League team scoring those two goals it gets spoken about for ages and ages and that’s what I try and say to the lads, that they need to believe in themselves because they have got that ability,” Schumacher said on BBC Radio Devon.

“Even in the opening minutes, when we made a beautiful play and Bali Mumba got in, if it goes in, it’s three outstanding goals in the first half, but he didn’t score it when he should have. If we can show it more often and be more clinical.

“But I’m pleased for him that he did manage to get a goal because he needed it.”