Mathias Ross on Alex Mitchell, captaining Argyle and League One

Ross admitted the physicality and the direct play had been surprised him most about the games in the third tier of English football, but he had got used to that.

The Danish centre-back joined Argyle as a free agent in August after leaving top Turkish side Galatasaray last summer and feels 'very comfortable' at Home Park.

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Ross has played 44 games in all competitions and his centre-back pairing with Mitchell, the loan signing from Charlton Athletic, has been one of the keys to Pilgrims' second half of the season success, which has seen them surge into play-off contention.

"I think our partnership has been working very well," said the 25-year-old. "We co-operate well and we suit each other very good as players.

"I think for this league the way he plays is very efficient. He's really strong and he's very good at defending the box, which you need in this league, whereas I'm probably a bit more the technical player next to him.

"We hold each other to a high standard. Also in the game sometimes when one of us loses a duel we are on each other, we demand a lot from each other, and I think that's good.

"I think we have created a strong duo and I'm really happy about our partnership."

Ross has become such a dependable mainstay of the Argyle side that when Joe Edwards missed the 1-1 draw away to Bradford City on Tuesday night after his wife gave birth to a baby boy, he was the player who took over the captain's armband.

"It was a big honour to lead out such a big club in an important game like that was," said Ross. "I was really proud about it, very happy about it.

"You know how it is, the focus is on the match 100 per cent. Of course, I was really happy when I was being told I was the captain but very shortly after the focus turns onto the match, and what I have to do in the game and what we have to do to win the game.

"The armband doesn't change much for me. I'm not going to change myself or I'm not going to do anything different.

"I was just trying to be as I always was, and in our team luckily we have many players that take responsibility and that are leaders in their own way. I think we have a really good group in terms of that so it makes it easier."

Talking about his first experience of English football this season, Ross said: "I have learned a lot because I had no idea it would be this physical. There is a lot of direct play, which you also need to adapt to as an individual and as a team.

"That took some time to adapt to and get used to because it is a very big part of almost all the games - set pieces, being physical, direct play are definitely things that are going to decide many games.

"That part has surprised me a bit, I would say, but in general I find the level high. The intensity, the physicality is very strong. I think that's probably the standout thing I have learned this season about the league."

Ross has also learned about the passion there is for Argyle among the Green Army, who have packed out Home Park through the ups and downs of this season.

"I think that shows how big football is in England," he said. "It's the third tier but still many times the stadiums are sold out and a very good atmosphere. That's always motivating when you play in front of big crowds."

Argyle's draw away to fourth-placed Bradford, after they had held a lead going into the final 20 minutes of the match, was a setback to their play-off push with wins on the same evening for their top six rivals Stevenage and Luton Town.

With only two more matches to play - at home to Port Vale tomorrow and away to Northampton Town next weekend - the Pilgrims are four points behind sixth-placed Stevenage.

Ross said: "We need to control what we can. We need to win on Saturday and then we need to win at Northampton. At the end of the day, that's what we have to focus on, to win those two games and then we will see what happens.

"If we end up with 73 points and we don't make the play-offs then that's how it is, but at least we need to give ourselves the best chance to go there."

Regardless of whether Argyle make the play-offs or not they have certainly come a long way since they were bottom of League One in November and looking likely to face a fight against relegation.

Ross said: "I think 2026 has been a very good year for us. I think we have done very well in the last four months. Obviously, what we are paying for a little bit now is the start of the season. That wasn't as we hoped."

As for how he has settled in at Argyle, Ross added: "It has been really good. I have felt at home here at the club with a lot of good and warm people. I feel very comfortable here. For me, as well as the team, it has been progressing this way."

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