Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Jake Cole frustrated by defeat at Gillingham

GOALKEEPER Jake Cole was frustrated by Plymouth Argyle's 2-1 defeat against Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.

Cole was not overly impressed by the League Two leaders and thought it was a missed opportunity for the relegation-threatened Pilgrims to pick up at least a point.

He told Herald Sport: "I'm very disappointed. The goals we gave away weren't the best.

"I thought we had a go at them (Gillingham) in the second half and got a goal back, and we tried to do what we could to get a point out of it but it wasn't our day.

"They play for long throw-ins and corners. They are quite organised but I didn't really see them as being a top team in this division.

"They don't play you off the park. I don't think there is much in it between any of the teams. Maybe the difference is they grind results out better than others."

Gillingham opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Argyle could not clear a free-kick into their penalty area.

On-loan Brentford striker Antonio German, in his first start for the Kent club, hooked the ball past Cole from close range.

"It was a scrappy goal," said Cole. "The ball came in the box and we had a chance to clear it but that didn't happen and the guy smashes it in from five yards."

German, 21, was a prospect in the youth set-up at Queens Park Rangers when Cole was at the west London club.

Gillingham's second goal came after German sprinted clear of the Argyle defence.

Cole forced German wide and pushed his shot onto the left post but the ball bounced out to Chris Whelpdale and the midfielder slotted home.

"I ended up making a save with my left hand onto the post," said Cole. "Luckily for them it falls to one of their guys and he tucks it in."

On-loan Crystal Palace winger Jason Banton replied for the Pilgrims in the 76th minute with his fourth goal in seven games.

Cole said: "He's a positive player. He runs at people and gets shots off.  Hopefully, he carries on doing that and we can get a few goals elsewhere."

Argyle dropped to the bottom of the table after their ninth away defeat in League Two this season.

They now face two crucial games at Home Park, first against Bradford City on Tuesday and then on Saturday, when Fleetwood Town will be the visitors.

Cole said: "We have got to be really positive and get some good points on board. I'm looking forward to playing Bradford.

"Hopefully, we get the three points we need and we can take that into the next game."

Bristol Rovers and Barnet have moved away from relegation trouble in recent weeks, but York City and Torquay United have been on the slide.

Argyle are four points behind 19th-placed York City but have played one game fewer than them.

They will also meet York at Bootham Crescent on Easter Monday, April 1, in what could be a crucial match.

Cole said: "One or two teams always drop into the mix in the last part of the season.

"There are a few in there and if you can get a couple of wins on the bounce then you can move up a good few places. That's how tight it is."

This is the fourth successive season that Cole has been involved in a fight against relegation from the Football League.

The first two were with Barnet, while last term he played his part in Argyle's eventual survival.

Cole is now facing the same scenario again and the 27-year-old admitted it was not easy to deal with.

"It's hard, to be fair," he said. "I just get on with it, be professional and do what I have to do."