'IT'S HUGE'

MUSLIC DOES NOT PLAY DOWN IMPORTANCE OF DERBY CLASH

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

MIRON Muslic believes Plymouth Argyle proved in their 2-1 victory over Portsmouth they can handle the pressure as they fight for Championship survival.

The Pilgrims' boss now wants to see his side build on that long-awaited first away league win of the season when they take relegation rivals Derby County at Home Park tomorrow. Just three points separate bottom-of-the-table Argyle and their 22nd-placed opponents.

Muslic said: "It's a six-pointer, no doubt. We have to perform again and we have to grab this three points. I think if we can execute the game plan we have all the chances. Portsmouth gave us hope, a good performance on Saturday and the three points would give us a chance, and we have to grab this with both hands."

Argyle scored either side of halftime at Portsmouth through Mustapha Bundu and Ryan Hardie to put themselves in a commanding position but they had Matty Sorinola sent-off in the 86th minute and the home side then scored soon afterwards to set up a tense finale.

Muslic said: "We knew if we didn't get this three points it will be very tough. That's pressure and we found a way to deal with that. It was not easy, one man down with 11 minutes additional time, you have to protect this one goal, it's also pressure. We as staff always try to calm them down.

"I think six or seven times I just raised my fist, just to say to them 'Don't worry guys, we are here and we can make this! It was trying to take a little bit away from the pressure but they did it well, they dealt with this.

"The plan is to go one-zero ahead tomorrow but it can be exactly the other way and still we have to continue. We are finding small ways to deal with that kind of pressure and it's just part of this beautiful job."

Five of the bottom seven Championship sides won their matches in midweek as the battle against relegation reaches its decisive stage. Muslic said: "We have to do our task and I never look at everything around.