Tom Cleverley stresses importance of clean sheets and wins as Plymouth win again

Tom Cleverley highlighted the importance of “clean sheets and wins” after Plymouth claimed back-to-back League One victories for the first time since September with a 1-0 home success over Rotherham.

Argyle moved up to 21st thanks to Joe Ralls’ 42nd-minute winner following a flowing passing move down the right.

Alex Mitchell made a superb off-the-line clearance to deny Tom Holmes in the second half as United piled on the pressure.

Plymouth are now two points behind 15th-placed Rotherham.

Cleverley admitted: “It was not the greatest game of football.

“We took a decision of substance over style six weeks ago and we’ve had four 1-0 wins in our last six games.

“The guys are fighting for the shirt, determined to win and getting results.

“I thought the last couple of weeks we could have got more from games but didn’t so maybe today balanced it out a bit.

“We know we have got a lot to do but we are prepared to go on a journey together and we are getting there.

“The fans have been absolutely brilliant and they are part of the reason we are slowly turning the ship in the right direction.

“We weren’t at our best, playing free-flowing football, but we scored a great goal when we were on top, capped off by one of the outstanding players on the pitch for me today, Rallsy.

“It was a tough second half.

“We have worked hard not to concede. The job that Matty Sorinola and Owen Dale do in front of the full-backs is phenomenal.

“I like the fact that now we are just three points from the top half.

“I want to play attractive football as much as you want to see it but at the moment this is where we are and it’s about clean sheets and wins.”

Rotherham boss Matt Hamshaw said: “There will be times when we play worse than that and win games.

“I thought that there was one team in it and one team who got three points and one who didn’t and we’ve come out on wrong end of it. But, look, it’s on us.

“We have got to get a bit more quality in the final third. We got lots of crosses in but didn’t finish.

“In the second half there was one team going for it and one hanging on.

“If you were a neutral you wonder how Plymouth have come out of it winning the game.

“We had 335 fans down here. They have clapped the team off.

“They’ve seen a team who were on the front foot for the majority of the game.

“There wasn’t much in it in the first half but they (Plymouth) have come in 1-0 up.

“Overall? We had the best opportunities and they’ve won 1-0.

“If Plymouth outplayed us then I’d be the first to say it, I’m an honest guy, but this one stings because, like I said, I don’t think we’ve got the just deserts for what we put in.

“I have not won today and that frustrates the hell out of me because back-to-back defeats sting.”