Tom Flanagan made his debut for Plymouth Argyle on Saturday and helped the Pilgrims keep a clean sheet away at fellow play-off contenders Southend United.
The 22-year-old defender joined the Devon club on a month’s loan last week and went straight into the starting XI for clash at Roots Hall, where John Sheridan’s side picked up a valuable point with a goalless draw.
Flanagan did come close to a late winner for his new side but his flicked effort from Andy Kellet’s volley hit the crossbar.
Speaking to pafc.co.uk, the centre-back said: “It’s not that easy (going straight into the starting XI) but, in a strange way, it’s a little bit easier being a defender because you see everything whereas if I was a midfielder, I don’t know what’s going on behind me.
“It wasn’t too bad and it was literally just about getting myself through the game and trying to impress the manager and win the boys over – I’ve played with loan players before and, when they first walk in, you are a little bit sceptical because you don’t know what they are going to be like.
“I had quite a lot to prove and I felt I did okay. I was a little bit tired towards the end but that’s just lack of games – I’ll be alright.”
Elsewhere, Charlie Burns started in goal for Truro City against Corby Town, in a match which ended in bizarre fashion with floodlight failure seeing the fixture abandoned five minutes before the 90.
The White Tigers were trailing 2-1 when the ‘lights went out’ and the two clubs will now wait on an FA ruling which will determine whether the match will have to be replayed or if the result will stand.
Harry Hickford, meanwhile, made his fifth straight appearance for Chelmsford City as they fell to a 3-1 defeat away at Weston-Super-Mare.
The Vanarama Conference South side are now sixth in the table, with an important clash against Wealdstone coming up this weekend.
Flanagan did come close to a late winner for his new side but his flicked effort from Andy Kellet’s volley hit the crossbar.
Speaking to pafc.co.uk, the centre-back said: “It’s not that easy (going straight into the starting XI) but, in a strange way, it’s a little bit easier being a defender because you see everything whereas if I was a midfielder, I don’t know what’s going on behind me.
“It wasn’t too bad and it was literally just about getting myself through the game and trying to impress the manager and win the boys over – I’ve played with loan players before and, when they first walk in, you are a little bit sceptical because you don’t know what they are going to be like.
“I had quite a lot to prove and I felt I did okay. I was a little bit tired towards the end but that’s just lack of games – I’ll be alright.”
Elsewhere, Charlie Burns started in goal for Truro City against Corby Town, in a match which ended in bizarre fashion with floodlight failure seeing the fixture abandoned five minutes before the 90.
The White Tigers were trailing 2-1 when the ‘lights went out’ and the two clubs will now wait on an FA ruling which will determine whether the match will have to be replayed or if the result will stand.
Harry Hickford, meanwhile, made his fifth straight appearance for Chelmsford City as they fell to a 3-1 defeat away at Weston-Super-Mare.
The Vanarama Conference South side are now sixth in the table, with an important clash against Wealdstone coming up this weekend.
