Plymouth Argyle's Guy Branston insists he has no point to prove against Aldershot

ARGYLE centre-back Guy Branston has admitted it was his own fault his move to Aldershot last summer did not work out.

Branston was snapped up by Aldershot manager Dean Holdsworth in June after his contract at Bradford City was terminated by mutual consent.

However, he went on to make only four starts and one substitute appearance for the Shots before leaving last month.

The 34-year-old will return to Aldershot tomorrow, as part of an Argyle squad desperate to beat one of their League Two relegation rivals.

Branston has started the last three matches for the Pilgrims after signing a contract with them until the end of the season.

The much-travelled defender told Herald Sport: "Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me at Aldershot. It was all my own fault.

"I had a few little niggles, didn't get in the side and didn't change Dean Holdsworth's mind to play me.

"I looked at myself and how I trained and I trained well. Sometimes you can only train as hard as you possibly can and if the manager doesn't change his mind about you he doesn't change his mind.

"I would say this to any kid – football is about opinions. It's who a manager is happy with at the time.

"If they are happy with a certain player in the team, don't get disheartened. You have to focus on your own ability and what you do on the training ground.

"If you know you are doing the right things, you have just got to keep going and ticking along."

One of Branston's four starts for Aldershot came when they lost 2-1 to Argyle at Home Park in a Johnstone's Paint Trophy last 16 tie in October.

Branston said: "I haven't got anything to prove to Dean Holdsworth. He saw me every day in training. I have got nothing to prove to myself either.

"I had a disappointing time at Bradford and went to Aldershot to prove myself and, again, it didn't work out. Now I'm here (at Argyle), which I'm more than happy with.

"I don't look at the negative side of things and proving people wrong. I know what I can do.

"When I'm in form I don't think there is anyone much better in this division. I might sound arrogant or confident, or whichever way you want to look at it, but I do believe that. That's how I am as a person."

Branston knows a lot about the Aldershot squad from his time with them, but Argyle manager John Sheridan has not asked him about their players, and their strengths and weaknesses.

Instead, Sheridan has been fully focused on trying to ensure his side play to the best of their ability.

Branston said: "The gaffer is not like a lot of managers. He doesn't worry about the other team.

"He worries about our team and what we are about, and how we train and how we play. I'm a big believer in that anyway.

"I think if we turn up right tomorrow we will win that game."

Branston's centre-back partner Anthony Charles is a former Aldershot captain, and was part of their squad when they were promoted to the Football League in 2008.

Argyle coach Gary Owers was also Aldershot's assistant manager to Kevin Dillon from November 2009 to January 2011.

Sheridan said: "I don't know what the circumstances were when the two lads (Branston and Charles) left Aldershot.

"Hopefully, going back there will give them a lift and they will want to get a positive result and perform well for us.

"Gary did well when he was the assistant manager there with Kevin Dillon so he knows a little bit about them.

"I think they are all looking forward to going back and getting a good result for Plymouth."