If any proof was needed that Plymouth Argyle’s League Two promotion run-in will be full of ups and downs, then it was encapsulated in the Greens’ last two games, writes Ross Reid.

The euphoria of a comprehensive, disciplined 3-0 Devon derby home win over in-form Exeter City on Saturday in front of a capacity Home Park crowd was in stark contrast to the disappointment of losing 3-2 at home to second from bottom Leyton Orient on Tuesday evening.

Argyle – and particularly Derek Adams’ four new home debutants – positively dazzled against Exeter, who arrived at Home Park boasting a brilliant seven-match winning run, including a 1-0 victory at Portsmouth.

New on-loan Cardiff City winger Matty Kennedy crowned a man of the match performance with a brilliant ‘slide rule’ opening goal and then set up impressive target man Ryan Taylor’s first Argyle goal before half-time.

To cap it all – on a day when it appeared nothing could go wrong for the team in green – substitute Jake Jervis popped off the bench, won and then converted a stoppage time penalty.

It was a different Derek Adams that greeted the press on Tuesday, post defeat.

He said: ‘To be in a position where we were 2-1 up and under no real threat and then all of a sudden we lose 3-2 . . . we didn’t defend well enough and in the end they have won the game when we probably could have been three or 4-1 up at that stage.

‘Things happened tonight which we didn’t deal well with.

‘The manner of the defeat does not sit well.’

Sixteen games to go – everything to play for . . .