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Darko Gyabi thankful Plymouth Argyle will have large away support at Bristol City

Darko Gyabi on the ball for Argyle during the Championship match against Norwich City at Carrow Road on Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Photo: Alan Stanford/PPAUK
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Midfielder Darko Gyabi has spoken about the importance of the support of the Green Army to Plymouth Argyle's players ahead of the away game against Bristol City tomorrow.

More than 3,000 supporters will make the trip to Ashton Gate, which comes after the 6-1 drubbing at Norwich City on Tuesday night. Wayne Rooney's Pilgrims are still winless on their travels in the league this term, with seven defeats out of nine games, and they have conceded 23 goals.

Gyabi, now in his second season with Argyle on loan from Leeds United, had a message for the Green Army who will pack out the Atyeo Stand at Ashton Gate. He said: "First of all, we want to say thank you to them as a team. We understand the travelling to away games is not easy.

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"Saturday might not be the furthest but for the other games they are travelling quite far. It wasn't good enough midweek and we are looking to make sure that going into the game on Saturday we give them a better performance. We are ready for that."

He added: "We are going to need them by our side for the rest of the season because it is a long season and we can't do it without them."

Reflecting on the chastening defeat by Norwich, Gyabi said: "I don't think it was good enough from any single one of us. We have spoken about it and addressed the issues we felt we had, and what we think we need to change going into Saturday.

"It was a tough game, something that really hurts as well, not just the players but also the fans who travelled. We understand that. We just need to look at what went wrong and make sure we stop it from happening again."

When asked what more Rooney could do to prepare the team for games, Gyabi replied: "In a situation like this, I feel everyone could do better, not just the gaffer but the players especially because we are the ones on the pitch and we need to take responsibility.

"We need to work hard and find solutions quicker, but I feel like I can't just say one single person has to be better because we are a team. All of us together have to make sure we find a solution and sort this out."

While Argyle have picked up 15 points from eight home Championship matches they have managed just two on the road and that is why they find themselves in 20th position in the table going into game against Bristol City.

Gyabi said: "I think playing away in general is tough. Obviously, teams find it tough playing here at our ground. We need to find ways to get results and find ways to stay in games for longer. I think we are more than good enough of going to these away games and getting results. We just need to find the right answers."

Argyule have conceded the first goal in seven of their last eight matches home and away, and in each of the past three that has been inside eight minutes of the kick-offs.

Gyabi said: "It's difficult when we go down in away games. When we concede first it's tough because then we have to climb back. If we can find opportunities to get up ahead it will be better for us to build on.

"That's something we need to look to do, scoring the first goal in away games, and even at home games sometimes I feel like we maybe don't start the fastest. If we can get the first goal it's always better."

Away from his club career at Argyle, Gyabi made his England under-21s debut earlier this month, playing as a second half substitute in friendly internationals away to Spain and the Netherlands, and that was something he was understandably very proud about.

He said: "It was massive because it happened so quickly. I went with the 20s and both age groups were at St George's Park. I trained with the 21s one of the days but I wasn't meant to be with them originally.

"I think a player dropped out so they said 'You are with us now'. It was something quite good for me and my family because I have been through the England age groups since under-15, so playing up to the 21s was something I was really proud of.

"They were two really good teams (Spain and the Netherlands). They had some good players, and we had some good players as well. It was our testing ourselves against top opposition, which was good.

"Different players playing in different leagues coming together, there is always going to be a bit of a mixture and you are going to see a lot of quality as well because those players are at top clubs. There was players in the Championship in that squad as well so I think it just shows no matter where you are there is still an opportunity. It was really good."

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