PLYMOUTH Albion hooker James Owen

(pictured above)

is calling on the team to show some consistency for the remainder of the season.

Albion have been hot and cold this term.

They have produced some stunning displays at home to Nottingham and Cornish Pirates and away at Exeter, but have let themselves down in games against Rotherham, Doncaster, Moseley and Coventry.

Owen, though, hopes Albion can now keep the level of performance they showed last Saturday when they out-scored second-placed Nottingham five tries to three.

"We did answer a few critics on Saturday," said Owen, who is also Albion's fitness and conditioning coach.

"But if we get carried away and don't perform this week then we will be back to square one.

"However, it is not really about what other people think – it is about what happens in that changing room and on that pitch between the squad of players."

Owen added: "We want to entertain and win.

"People watching must understand the desire and work going on behind the scenes.

"Sometimes things do not go your way and there is nobody more gutted than us when we perform badly and lose.

"We now want to build on Saturday's performance and make ourselves a team, who can do that, week-in week-out.

"We want to be a team where people look and say they don't want to go to Plymouth because it is tough."

Albion's lack of consistency has been blamed on the squad's inexperience at Championship level.

The Brickfields club have one of the youngest squads in the league, but Owen's insists that is no excuse.

"It is a mental thing," he said. "If we keep telling these lads they are young and inexperienced they are going to behave like it, but I expect the same from everyone.

"Look at Rory Watts-Jones: he's a university player who had never played near this level before, but if you looked at him on the pitch on Saturday and did not know him you would have thought he was a seasoned pro.

"He was outstanding and that is the mental toughness you need, but you need to bring it every week. It is no good just having a big game and then stepping off.

"Everyone has to perform every week.

"I know they can all do it and they should expect it of themselves."