Tom Cleverley reserves praise for Lorent Taloj after display against Burton

Plymouth manager Tom Cleverley praised 15-goal top scorer Lorent Taloj following the 3-0 Sky Bet League One win over Burton.

The Swiss striker claimed an assist and a 77th-minute third goal from the penalty spot as Argyle soared out of the basement to reach 15th in a jam-packed table.

Brendan Galloway volleyed Plymouth into a 21st-minute lead from Joe Ralls’ corner and the midfielder also set up their 63rd-minute second, converted by substitute Mathias Ross and teed up by Taloj.

Cleverley said: “Tolaj worked well with Bim Pepple and then with substitute Caleb Watts.

“He (Tolaj) has been outstanding for us and deserves a couple of days off knowing he’s top of the (goalscoring) charts.

“It was a thoroughly deserved win.

“We started the game really well with Tolaj hitting the crossbar in the first minute.

“I gave the players a challenge of double-figures attempts on goal in the first half and I think we had 12 and we ended up with 20 in the game.

“It was a good balance of controlling the game but also having some purpose to it.

“I thought we were well worthy of the three points.

“Today marks the end of those 10 games we talked about and a 17-point target we managed to achieve, and we are heading in the right direction.

“Now it’s about the players having a couple of days’ rest and looking to attack the next block of games.

“We were really strong on set-pieces at start of the season then we dropped off for about eight or nine games, since Burton away, we got back to it today.

“Two really nice set-piece goals, one direct and one playing short and I am really pleased with the outcome and to be getting more of our players back from injury.

“We’ve had to deal with it most season where three, four of our most effective players are out and you can see the effect it had on Gary’s team today.

“If they are missing Shade, Beesley and Webster they are not the same team.”

Burton boss Gary Bowyer said: “The game was decided by two set-plays and a very debatable penalty.

“We get told about minimal contact and that’s why it’s not a foul.

“I just don’t know where we are at with it if I am being honest because unfortunately, we don’t have VAR and when they do have VAR you watch it on the telly and they talk about minimal contact and that’s why a penalty wasn’t given.

“The game is one of those where I have to give our players credit because you have seen our squad and you will probably have all had to have done research on our subs because they are not names you will have been familiar with.

“That group of players that played for us today have played four games in 10 days and given their absolute all.

“The efforts from our players and the way they kept at it, you know they didn’t give up, they kept going.

“If I named you our team that could have played here today there are 12 names missing.

“When you are a club of our size and our budget, that then massively impacts us.

“We have been here before in this situation, we know how to get out of it and so when we get some bodies back we will be looking at that.”