Injuries have created 'siege mentality', says Cleverley

Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says injuries affecting his squad this season have created a "siege mentality" which has aided their current run of good form.

Tuesday's 3-0 win at Wigan Athletic made it five wins in six league games and Argyle are on the road once more on Saturday to face play-off rivals Reading.

Before departing for Berkshire, Cleverley provided some good news on injured full-back Matty Sorinola, who missed the midweek victory.

"The depth of the squad is very, very shallow but if the team from Tuesday can stay consistently fit, then we're in a good place," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"If you look at Leam's [Reading boss Leam Richardson] bench on Tuesday [a 1-0 defeat by Mansfield] with Matt Ritchie - Premier League experience - Paddy Lane and Will Keane, Championship experience.

"And we've got two lads that were sitting their GCSE's this time last year [Seb Campbell and Joe Mwaro].

"But it's creating a bit of a siege mentality, and we're using that to our advantage.

"Matty Sorinola's injury is much better than we thought. It doesn't look like surgery is needed, and if the ankle joint is stable, then the ligament damage should take four to six weeks [to recover].

"We're likely to see Matty again this season."

Argyle's fans travel long distances in large numbers to see their team play away from home.

Prepared to be buoyed on by almost 3,000 of their own fans at the weekend, former England international Cleverley said managing a side with such an impressive following was an "honour".

He said: "We're so well followed, we've been through thick and thin together this season, and it will feel like a real significant moment on Saturday.

"There's a real excitement around the training ground and the players will know exactly how many are going to be there on Saturday - the amount of travelling fans that are going to be there is adding to the excitement around this fixture."

Midfielder Malachi Boateng has started every League One match for Plymouth this season so far and provided two assists in midweek.

He agreed with his manager that the Green Army have been a huge driving force in each of their nine away league wins this season.

"The support this season has been spectacular, even when we were going through a bit of a struggle," Boateng told BBC Radio Devon.

"It's been amazing with them helping us and I think they are a key part as to why we are winning so much away.

"You see the effect it has on us when we're playing – we just want to put on a show for them when they travel."