Plymouth and Stevenage players have to be separated after clashing in post-match scenes

Plymouth and Stevenage players have to be separated by teammates and staff members after clashing in post-match scenes.

Tom Cleverley’s side boosted their League One playoff hopes with a 1-0 victory over Stevenage, who started the day in 5th.

The only goal of the game came in the 57th minute, thanks to Mathias Ross, who headed in from Ronan Curtis’ corner, the ball in off the underside of the bar.

The result sees Stevenage sitting 8th with 57 points from 37 games played, a point from the playoff places, but have a game in hand. Plymouth are 10th with 56 points from 38 games played, and are 2 points from the playoff places.

FT scenes and a interesting scuffle at the end. Another win towards our end goal. Onto another massive game on Saturday. #pafc #sfc #stevenage #argyle pic.twitter.com/sGHOaGXLid

— Block9Podcast | All Things Argyle (@Block9Podcast) March 17, 2026

Cleverley to Argyle TV: “Having seen some of the results this evening, it’s important that we didn’t lose any ground.

“We’ve gained three points on Stevenage, a couple on Huddersfield but, more importantly, we’ve kept our momentum.

“I thought we were a little bit flat, and not as clean and crisp as we can be, first half, and then we improved that [in the] second half. I thought we took the initiative in the game, got a lot more field position because of our better play, which led to a lot of set plays – and ultimately set plays have led to goals for us this season.

“[I’m] really pleased with the second half. It feels like we’re getting into a groove here where, even if we don’t perform as well as we can do in the first half, going towards the Devonport [in the] second half, there’s an air of confidence about us, and I’m really pleased.

“You’re never expecting too much rhythm in the game when you come up against Stevenage. They’re not the only team, but the ball-in-play time is very low against Stevenage. [However], I think that might have suited us tonight with the physical demands we’ve been asking for our players recently. It wasn’t the worst evening to have a game that lacked a little bit of rhythm, although it wasn’t the greatest watch.

“There’s certainly a real togetherness about the group. I think that we’ve used the injury situation to try to create that. We are down to the bare bones. We are asking a lot from each and every one of those players that are fit, and they’re producing the goods. Now we need one more push on Saturday to cap off a period where we’ve had so many games, we’ve travelled so many miles, and then we can reset a little bit before Bradford (on 28 March).”

On Ross’s goal: “He’s been outstanding in the last 10, 12 games.

“He took a little bit of time to adapt to the game in England but when you see Mathias, you see a very intelligent, calm [person]. He’s got a presence of someone who is really on the up, and he carries himself really well.

“You know he’d identify what he needs to improve, and he’d go out and improve that – now we’re all getting the benefits of that. For the last 10 games, I couldn’t be more happy with him. His consistency, his on-the-ball, his off-the-ball duels, and he’s scored some huge goals for the club. He looks like he’s enjoying himself.”

Stevenage boss Alex Revell said: “It was a harsh result. We dominated the game in the first half.

“We’ve had big chances in that first half. We didn’t take them.

“And all the time, we all know what football is like and when you don’t take those opportunities… it’s a set-piece or a mistake.

“Unfortunately, we conceded from a set-piece against a team that is the highest in the division for scoring them and we didn’t deal with the situation well enough.

“After that we had some real good opportunities and again we didn’t take them and I just thought it was a game if we had taken them we would have been out of sight.

“But I am really proud of them today because I thought we played some really good stuff.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Plymouth and Stevenage players have to be separated after clashing in post-match scenes..

@CarlBarnard15: Always worth filming FT scenes when this happens! 👀 Love Ross pulling Oseni away, and Mitchell’s reaction getting Wiredu out of it. Both immense tonight and turning into leaders and top defenders at this level. Not the best performance tonight but never was on the cards playing Stevenage, job done 3 points and onto Huddersfield! #pafc

@Boropod: it’s always Sweeney

@ReeceDSport: Enjoyed this scrap. Looked like 5 1v1 battles

@PAFCConnor3: Mitchell pulling Wiredu away is exactly why he should be captain of this football club if we sign him permanently 💚

@TSFCPodcast: Up the Sweendog and Phillips….

@hugegills: That Ref and Lino watching on. Wouldnt trust either to judge a pancake tossing competition let alone officiate a football match

@TheGreenJanner: Sums up our back line Ross and Mitchell ripping players out of the scrum!! Thats leadership!

@Voodoov21: It’s a good thing Alex Mitchell was there to calm it all down.

@olpafc_: Mitchell loves it 🤣🤣

@Louieallen_: Up the fucking Janners 💚