“New Year, new Argyle!” “I’ve missed this lovely warm feeling.” “What’s a 3-0?”

What a brilliant way to start 2019.

Three goals, three points, and a clean sheet. Oh how we needed that after a disappointing second half of 2018.

Plymouth Argyle rang in 2019 in style on New Year’s Day with a superb 3-0 win at home to fellow relegation battlers Oxford United.

Antoni Sarcevic got us off to a stellar start when he prodded home after seven minutes, before goals in either half from Ruben Lameiras sealed that much-needed win.

Due to work commitments in the morning of New Year’s Day I was unable to get to Home Park, so instead I opted to fork out £10 to watch the live stream from home.

I had done so for the Boxing Day game at Wimbledon and soon wished I hadn’t, when a horrific defensive error with 15 minutes to go meant that we slipped to the bottom of the table once again.

That result led to a few changes with Lameiras coming into the side for the 1-1 draw at Burton on December 29, in which a second-half performance offered a bit of hope for the fans of the beleaguered Pilgrims.

But it was the Oxford game on New Year’s Day that the Portugeezer (as coined by the Argyle twitter account) showed his true quality. He was magnificent. He not only scored two goals – both of which were fine finishes – but could well have had three or four and was a constant pain for the Oxford defenders.

Crucially, he also did his defensive work, getting back to make a couple of important interceptions and clearances when needed, which he has been criticised for not doing in previous games.

“They were literally scared of him at the end.” “Start him every week then.” “Best singular performance I’ve seen all season.”

I am still very much a defender of Derek Adams, but it is inexplicable how much Ruben has been in and out of the team this season.

Yes there are questions about how we can most effectively utilise him and Graham Carey, but the Oxford game showed that they can both be on form in the same side at the same time. They were both fantastic. Ruben was the star on this occasion but Carey supported him brilliantly.

Besides, it worked out pretty well for us in the second half last season when they were both in the team…

I and many of my fellow Pilgrims certainly believe we stand a much better chance of avoiding the dreaded drop to League Two with him on the pitch.