Plymouth in relegation 'dogfight'

Sturrock's side have slipped from fifth to 16th place in the Championship

Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Sturrock admits his side are now in a relegation fight after losing 2-0 at home to Bristol City on Tuesday night.

The loss leaves Argyle four points above the drop zone after taking only five points in their last 10 games.

"It's a dogfight with about another seven or eight teams," Sturrock told BBC Radio Devon.

"I certainly did not expect us to go through as bad a spell as we have been through lately."

And Sturrock's frustration at his side, who rose as high as fifth in the table back in October, is compounded by his feelings that his team have been worth more than they have achieved.

"We've played 10 games and taken very little points and I would say in six or seven of those games we've merited something out of the game and that's how cruel football can be," he said.

"It's an evil game - football. It can kick you in the teeth and it's kicking us in the teeth at this minute."

And he says the pressure is starting to get to his players in front of goal.

"There are too many people thinking about it. Before it was just instinctive, they just went in the goal, finished, in the goal," continued Sturrock.

"Now they're taking a touch, when they should hit, they're hitting when they're taking a touch, they're thinking about it all the time."