Plymouth Argyle striker Owen Oseni’s work-rate was hailed as “outstanding” after his winning goal in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Wycombe Wanderers.
The 22-year-old – who moved to Argyle in the summer after spells at non-league Gateshead and Scottish club St Mirren – secured Argyle’s third 1-0 win in five games.
The victory moved the Pilgrims up a place to 22nd in League One, a point away from leaving the relegation zone.
Oseni was leading the line with first-choice striker Lorent Tolaj suspended and the goal was the first by an Argyle player other than Tolaj since the end of September.
“It was close to a complete performance from him as you’ll see,” head coach Tom Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.
“He’s improved his hold-up play, which he knew he needed to.
“His work for the team is outstanding, he’s dead on his feet in there, and his quality for the goal was there for all to see.
“That’s six for the season. In a season that we saw as a development one for Owen, he’s been an important player for us.
“I’m really happy for him and he’s won the club three points tonight.”
After a seven-game winless run from the start of October to mid-November, the win at Adams Park demonstrated the continued upturn in Argyle’s form.
Their third win in five games in all competitions came as the Pilgrims began to get more of their key players back from injury.
Winger Xavier Amaechi came on as a late substitute as he continues to return to full fitness after hamstring surgery while Julio Pleguezuelo made his third start in seven days.
Cleverley says he can see the improvement compared to Argyle’s 2-0 loss at Wycombe in the FA Cup on 1 November.
“I think it’s the most consistent our team selections have been,” he said. “A couple of key players are missing, but the consistency has come in, you can see that in our performances.
“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves tonight because it’s not the time for that, but I think the scene of our worst performance of the season and the scene of our biggest win of the season, it shows the progress that we’re making and we have to keep the momentum.”
