Cleverley determined to halt Plymouth's slump

Tom Cleverley joined Plymouth Argyle in the summer after leaving Watford

Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley says he will fight to turn around his side's dire form.

The Pilgrims slipped to the bottom of the table after losing 3-1 at Huddersfield Town - a fifth successive defeat in all competitions.

Argyle have taken just one point from their past five league games and recorded just one League One victory in almost two months.

"It hurts a hell of a lot to say that your football team's at the bottom of the league. That really hurts my pride," Cleverley said after the game.

"It's not in my nature, but something that is in my nature is fighting, and until told otherwise I will grit my teeth, I will work hard, I will help the players whichever way I can and I'm up for the challenge."

Cleverley has been hit by injuries to key players, while the club's recruitment - especially in attacking areas - was weak over the summer transfer window, with Lorent Tolaj the only experienced forward brought in.

But he insists he will not make excuses.

"I can sit here and say we've got this many injuries and at Mansfield I had six subs and two of them played in the Youth Cup the next night," Cleverley said.

"I can sit here and say we've got six away games on the bounce and the team has to travel the most.

"But it's no use to anyone. What solutions am I going to find to get all that right? And that's what I'm focusing on."

'I need to address the mentality of the players'

Argyle had a terrible start to the season, losing five of their first six league games.

But they had an impressive September, with five wins in six games in all competitions, and it seemed they were back on track after relegation from the Championship last season.

Cleverley, who took over as head coach after Miron Muslic's resignation in June, says he needs to try and get his side's mentality back to how it was six weeks or so ago.

"We did it in September, where we won five games in a month, in a couple of different competitions, I know, but that's what we need," he said.

"I need to address the mentality of the players first because it's just that they're really lacking confidence from when we beat Stockport home, Luton away and Blackpool at home in a month.

"Their mindset and mentality looks a little bit shot to pieces at the minute.

"It's manageable when it's one or two players, when it's eight, nine, 10 players and you've not got the squad to rotate that, it's a difficult period.

"We will for sure be working as hard as ever and until told otherwise I will be doing my best to develop this young group and teach them how to be a bit more resilient."