Cleverley urges Pepple to 'set tone' for Argyle

Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley says top scorer Bim Pepple needs to "set the tone" for the rest of the side.

Pepple missed the 2-1 win over AFC Wimbledon earlier this month with a hamstring strain.

He returned to play an hour in the 2-0 loss to Huddersfield Town before playing all of Tuesday night's 3-0 defeat at Stevenage.

Having scored six goals in seven games before his injury, Pepple has not found the net since his return.

"He needs to get back to looking more hungry," Cleverley said after the match.

"We're here to support Bim and make him better, and I've not seen the same hunger in his eyes.

"Whether he's protecting something, I don't know, but as the talisman and the leading goalscorer you can really set the tone for the rest of the team.

"He needs to embrace that responsibility."

Having been top of League One, Argyle have slipped to fifth place after their past two defeats.

Cleverley described Tuesday night's loss at Stevenage as "unacceptable" as the Pilgrims drew successive league blanks for the first time in almost a year.

"I think it was one in 32 games that teams managed to stop us scoring and now it's four in seven," Cleverley added.

"So there really will be a point where I have to put more value on stopping at the other end if we're not looking like being free scoring, and for that you might sacrifice a striker.

"So there's competition up there now."