Miron Muslic said it was a “sad, sad day for all of us” after seeing Plymouth all-but relegated despite their 2-1 victory over Preston in the Sky Bet Championship.
Mustapha Bundu put Argyle ahead in the 14th minute and Callum Wright came off the bench to seal victory with a second goal in the 75th minute.
Emil Riis scored in the cloding stages as Plymouth failed to clear a corner, but the visitors held on to the victory.
Despite the three points, Luton’s 1-0 win over Coventry earlier in the day essentially confined the Pilgrims to League One next season, unless they are able to get a 14-goal swing with the Hatters on the final weekend of the season.
The Plymouth boss said: “We tried everything and we gave it all. Believe me, it was not easy for the lads, knowing from the first whistle that Luton scored this unbelievable goal in minute 90 and that we are relegated.
“It’s a tough one to take but then going outside and being ready to give it all one more time, first of all for us as a team, and for the Green Army, shows that we have the right character. It’s a sad, sad day for all of us.
“The character testament was there from the whole team. You go out on to the pitch knowing you’re relegated and you play Preston. They have something to play for.”
He added: “If you give everything to the lads then you can demand everything back. We gave it all from day one until today and then it’s easier to get everything back from the players because they believe in the process and they follow you.”
When pressed on his future at the club next season, Muslic said that it was “not the question for right now”, but he did say that those around Plymouth are “good people”.
Preston’s future in the Championship is also in doubt after a string of four straight league defeats and no victory in seven games has left them one point and one place above the relegation zone.
Boss Paul Heckingbottom admitted the current situation needs to be acknowledged.
“A scare like this is 100 per cent [a wake-up call],” Heckingbottom said. “But all I’m focused on is the preparation and the performance next week. That’s it. That’s what we mentioned today.
“The missing bits were in both boxes and we should be having a completely different conversation, but I’ve said that too many times and that’s been the one consistent flaw in our performances.
“When we’ve had the performances, when we’ve had the chances, we’ve not picked up enough three points off it and that’s the tale of it. When we’ve not been at our best, we’ve not been able to get over the line like Plymouth have today.”
Heckingbottom was scathing of his players in the recent home match against QPR, but was more calm and reflective in his assertions on the Plymouth defeat, putting any excuses to the side.
“It’s a tale of both boxes,” he added. “We were wasteful in their box and they were clinical in ours. That’s it.
“Everything else in between is propaganda when you’re looking for results. Even though we controlled that bit, the game’s always controlled with what happens in both boxes.”
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