Cleverley not giving up on Argyle's play-off hopes

Tom Cleverley has seen his side rise from the bottom of League One in November to play-off contenders in May [Shutterstock]

Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley says he has not given up hopes that his side can make the League One play-offs.

A 1-1 draw at fourth-placed Bradford City on Tuesday night means Argyle have slipped to eighth place and are four points off the top six with two games remaining.

It means Argyle must beat already-relegated Port Vale and Northampton Town to have a realistic hope of making the top six while also requiring Stockport County and Stevenage not to win their remaining fixtures.

Seventh-placed Luton Town are also in the mix and hold a one-point advantage over Argyle with games against Barnsley and Bolton Wanderers to close out the campaign.

"There's not time for us to be focused on frustrations and what could have been, that's for another day in the summer, if we don't make it," Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

"Right now I'm standing here and we've got a job to do.

"Port Vale will not be an easy nut to crack the way they've been performing and how resilient they've been. and that is our focus, do our job.

"This can't be the climax and then the rest tails off. No, until it is mathematically impossible for us to get in there that'll be our focus rather than reflecting on what could have been."

Cleverley has experience of late changes in fortune at the end of the season.

He was part of the Manchester United squad that saw an eight-point lead with six games to go evaporate as Manchester City pipped them to the title in 2012.

"There's more weird and wonderful things in football that happen than us making these play-offs," he added. "My job is to pick the guys up.

"They're disappointed tonight, so make sure that we do our job, and if six points doesn't end up being in there, then give our supporters two real top performances to end the season."