Plymouth manager Derek Adams sitting pretty after Crawley success

The Pilgrims looked like they would have to settle for a point against Crawley when substitute Roarie Deacon cancelled out Reuben Reid's first-half effort just four minutes from time.

But Crystal Palace loanee Hiram Boateng was quickest to react when Graham Carey's 89th-minute free-kick was spilled by Freddie Woodman.

That left the hosts two points clear at the summit and Adams in content mood.

"I am delighted with the win. We are 11 games into the season and moving along very nicely," he said.

"It's very tight at the top of the table but it is always nice to win games and we've now won seven out of 11 so we are showing the capabilities we have.

"The first half was by far the best performance we have had this season. We were outstanding, we moved the ball very quickly and created many opportunities in the game...we should have been ahead more than 1-0."

On his side's winner, Adams added: "Carey is always capable at free-kicks and it was great following up by Hiram Boateng, his first goal for us, so I am delighted for him as well.

"We have got midfielders scoring, strikers scoring but today it's about getting three points and we were able to do that. I am happy with the whole football club."

Crawley boss Mark Yates felt his side were worthy of sharing the spoils given the lack of clear scoring chances until the close.

"I thought our second-half performance deserved a point," he said.

"To score when we did and then to not come away with something is a tough one to take. it's just the way things are for us at the moment.

"We defended great in the first half...it was a great ball for their first goal but that was the only thing that really undid us.

"I didn't think Plymouth were getting in behind us too often and really hurting us. They were getting in wide areas and putting balls into the box but we defended really well...it was just one through ball that caught us out.

"I asked the players to take a little bit more responsibility with the ball in the second half and be a bit more courageous - show we can play - and I thought we did that."