Kevin Nancekivell praised Plymouth Argyle's players for putting their bodies on the line during the second half as they held out for a 0-0 draw with Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium.

It was clear from the outset of the Championship match that the Pilgrims, under the temporary charge of Nancekivell and Joe Edwards for the second time, had been set up to be hard to break down.

Argyle did carry some attacking threat during an even first half but Stoke dominated the second period in terms of possession and attacking play. However, they had few clear-cut chances, and no goals, to show for their efforts as the bottom-of-the-table visitors held firm.

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It was just a second clean sheet of the season for the Pilgrims, whose only previous one came in a 1-0 home win against Portsmouth on November 5, which was also the last time they picked up maximum points from a match.

Nancekivell said: "First half, I thought there was nothing in the game, we played some good football and gave as good as we got. Second half, we had to defend for our lives which we did.

"It's not an easy place to come. They have got a new manager (Mark Robins) in the building. There is always a red-hot atmosphere here and we knew we would have to withstand a lot of pressure and put our bodies on the line. We probably haven't done that well enough this season. That's part of the game and they have done it terrific today."

Nancekivell continued: "We came to win, that was the game plan, it didn't change but you don't always get what you want. Stoke have got some good players and they penned us back in the second half.

"We had to show a different side to our game that we haven't probably shown in recent away matches. I was delighted the way we stuck at it, we got our blocks, we defended really well and a point away from home in the Championship is not to be sneezed at."

It was only Argyle's second clean sheet in 25 Championship games this season and Nancekivell admitted: "It has been our Achilles heel. There's a reason why we have been at the bottom of the league. We have conceded too many goals this season.

"To come to a place like Stoke City and defend like we did in the second half, I was really pleased and really proud. That can give us confidence going forward into the games in the following months."

Goalkeeper Conor Hazard was booked in the first half for taking too long to restart the play as Argyle took every opportunity they could to prevent Stoke from getting a flow to their game. There were several delays after Pilgrims' players went down with knocks, which created a sense of frustration among the Stoke supporters.

Nancekivell said: "No apologies. We have to get a point and find a way to do things. I don't think we disrupted it too much. Players were injured and needed treatment. That's just part and parcel of football."

After five games in 15 days over the Christmas and new year period, Argyle's players will have a couple of days off before beginning their preparations for the Emirates FA Cup third round tie away to Premier League club Brentford on Saturday.

The busy schedule has limited the amount of time that Nancekivell and Edwards have had to work with the players after the departure of former head coach Wayne Rooney but they have been able to lead them to back-to-back draws at home to Bristol City (2-2) and against Stoke.

Nancekivell said: "We have not had a lot of time but me and Joe have been around them for a long time anyway. They have executed everything we have asked them to do and we have picked up two points in the two games, so that's definitely a start going forward."

The crowd of 26,168 at the bet365 Stadium included 1,407 members of the Green Army, which for a 12.30pm Saturday kick-off in the Potteries on the first Saturday of January, and given Argyle's awful away record, was impressive. Nancekivell, Edwards and the players all went across to the fans after the final whistle to thank them for their backing.

Nancekivell said: "I think that's important. There's a great relationship with the supporters for all the players and staff. We are very much a family club.

"We were very much together. I think when you are struggling a little bit, which we have been, you come together as one. Our appreciation of what the fans do cannot be high enough."

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