PLYMOUTH Argyle are out of the League Two relegation zone for the first time in five months after their 1-1 draw with Crawley Town at Home Park on Saturday.

But French centre-back Maxime Blanchard, who grabbed a 90th minute equaliser for the Pilgrims, insisted there was still a lot of hard work ahead of them.

Blanchard's first goal in English football meant Argyle moved up one position to 22nd in the table, a point above Dagenham and Redbridge and Northampton Town.

He told Herald Sport: "It's important, especially for the fans, to see the club out of the relegation zone.

"It's not an achievement because there is still a lot of work to do and we are not out of trouble, but it's a good thing."

Argyle followed up a 2-1 home defeat of Burton Albion the previous Saturday with their battling draw against title-chasing Crawley.

Blanchard said: "I'm not even watching the table at the moment. For us, it's not important to do that.

"At the end of the season we are going to watch the table and, hopefully, we are going to be out of trouble.

"It's very tight in this league and every team can beat anyone.

"I know 1-1 is a good result against a good team, but we try to win every game," added Blanchard, who recently signed a contract extension with Argyle until the end of the season.

Crawley took the lead at Home Park when defender Pablo Mills headed home towards the end of the first half.

Mills was not picked up as he got on the end of a free-kick from right-back David Hunt and powered the ball past keeper Jake Cole.

Blanchard said: "Conceding a goal with a free header from a set piece shouldn't happen."

Argyle seemed destined for a third defeat in their last four matches until Blanchard produced a piece of clinical finishing.

Midfielder Paul Wotton prodded the ball into the penalty area and, from a tight angle, Blanchard scored with a spectacular overhead kick.

Crawley keeper Scott Shearer dived low to his left to try to make a save, but the ball bounced into the far corner of the net.

He said: "Scoring a late goal is a great feeling. It's the first time I have done it.

"I don't remember much about it. The ball was in the air and the only thing for me to do was the overhead kick."

Argyle had nearly equalised only moments earlier when Shearer made a good save from Ashley Hemmings.

The on-loan Wolves winger, pushed into a forward role in the closing stages of the game, got on the end of a cross from substitute Craig Sutherland.

But, from close range, Hemmings could not guide the ball past Shearer.

Blanchard said: "At the end of the game we had a few chances, especially with the good cross off Suthers to Ash. He was unlucky with that one."

Crawley boasted a 30-goal strikeforce in Tyrone Barnett and Matt Tubbs, but they were well contained by the Pilgrims defence.

Darren Purse was the pick of the Argyle players, but Blanchard also made an important contribution to the cause.

"It was a good achievement to keep them (Barnett and Tubbs) quiet because they are a real threat," he said.

Blanchard believes there is a 'good atmosphere' among the Argyle squad, as demonstrated by their fighting spirit over recent matches.

The Pilgrims won 3-2 at Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day, after trailing by two goals at half-time.

They also fell behind 2-0 away to Crewe Alexandra on January 7, but were narrowly beaten 3-2 after a determined comeback.

And the win against Burton came courtesy of a late penalty from captain Simon Walton.

Blanchard said: "In every single game, we are not thinking we are going to lose. We are just fighting until the end and seeing what happens.

"In the dressing room at half-time (against Crawley) the coaches were confident about us coming back, and even winning."