Adam Randell 'feeling fine' after Plymouth Argyle comeback from injury

Adam Randell admitted luck was on his side when he equalised with a deflected free-kick in Plymouth Argyle's 1-1 draw with Derby County at Pride Park.

Randell also reported he was 'feeling fine' following his return to action after missing the Pilgrims' previous two Championship matches due to a thigh injury. He had been forced to sit out the 3-0 defeat at Leeds United and the 1-0 win against Portsmouth at Home Park and was a doubt before the trip to Derby, but the 24-year-old was eventually passed fir to play.

Not only did Randell play for the full 90-plus minutes of the match, he captained the side as well. Getting the goal which ended a dismal run of five successive away defeats for Argyle made it even more special for him.

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The Pilgrims had fallen behind early on to a spectacular overhead kick from Derby striker Jerry Yates but Randell replied in the 41st minute when a right-footed free-kick from around 25 yards out hit the head of Yates, who was stood in the County wall, and the ball went into the other side of the net from where he had been aiming for.

Randell said: "It was probably a bit lucky but sometimes you generate your own luck. I have had a few that have deflected just wide or over. It was nice to see that one hit the back of the net.

"It helped us get back in the game. I think it was a turning point as well. They were on top for a while before that and then we came alive a little bit.

It was Randell's first goal since he scored in the 1-1 draw away to Leeds in the FA Cup fourth round in January and he celebrated with a perfectly executed knee slide in the corner of a packed Pride Park where the travelling Green Army were watching from.

He said: "I wasn't going to do anything else. They have followed us in massive numbers again and shown great support to us. I had to go over to them, I was never going anywhere else."

His return to action saw him paired with Darko Gyabi in central midfield as Argyle head coach Wayne Rooney reverted to a 4-2-3-1 formation after playing more of a 4-1-4-1 before Randell's short lay-off.

Randell said: "I have enjoyed playing in there on my own but to have Darko next to me is just that extra bit of security, an extra body around to me to help in and out of possession. So that was good. In previous years I have played very similar positions to that so it's something I'm used to and something I enjoy."

It was something of a calculated risk to play Randell against Derby when he could have sat it out and then had the two-week international break to make sure he was as fit as possible, but Rooney opted to select him because it was an important match.

Randell said: "I'm feeling fine now, feeling back to 100 per cent. Recharge over the next couple of weeks and get some hard work done ready for the next one."

He added: "The lads did well against Portsmouth, that was a very important win. It's always tough, whoever is out the team, but you are obviously wishing the lads all the best whenever they play and you just want them to do well. Hopefully when you come back into the team, like I have, you can have an impact."

Argyle are not in action again until Friday, November 22 when Watford will be the visitors to Home Park for a Sky-televised clash. That will be the first of 11 games in 44 days up to and including January 4.

Randell said: "We have got a few months without another international break so it's going to be a tough time, we are going to have to dig in loads. Games are going to come thick and fast but I'm sure we will be ready for it when it comes."

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