Bim Pepple has pulled back the curtain on a deliberate, methodical shift in his mental approach to finishing, and the numbers suggest it is working. The Plymouth Argyle striker has scored in each of his past four appearances and has netted 20 goals since the start of 2026, compared with just three in the first half of last season.

From hesitation to composure

Pepple, 23, admits that self-control in front of goal was something he had to build rather than something that came naturally. "If you were to watch training, everyone can finish," he said, "but the difference is when you get in front of a bunch of people, you're about to score, it's about keeping your composure to pass it in the net."

He is candid about where things used to break down. "That's probably one thing I really struggled with at the beginning of last season, and just throughout my career. So a lot of it's mental work that I work on: stay calm, score the goal first and then celebrate. It's a bit hard for me because I love the feeling of scoring, I love celebrating, so sometimes you get ahead of yourself."

The role of the sports psychologist

To address that tendency, Pepple began working with a sports psychologist. The sessions centre on guided visualisation, a technique in which a player mentally rehearses specific in-game scenarios before a match. The idea is that when those situations arrive on the pitch, they carry a sense of familiarity rather than novelty.

"The day before we'll just go through guided visualisation on scenarios I might see, so a ball across the box or going through one-on-one," Pepple explained. "It's just like practising to almost be in that scenario so that when you are in that position on the pitch it feels like you've been there before."

He says the method has produced results that might surprise those who have not tried it. "You'd be surprised at how many goals that you visualise and come exactly the same way, so it's a huge part of preparation and I think a lot of top strikers do it. You might go five games, four games without scoring, but it's just about: keep visualising, keep visualising and it will come."

Tap-ins over highlights

Despite scoring what he describes as "a couple of good goals" this month, Pepple is deliberately steering himself away from the spectacular. "I want to get back to my tap-ins, my bread and butter," he said, "and that's what I'm really working on: my movement to try and get my tap-ins, because that's what you want to make a living off."

It is the sort of ruthlessly pragmatic thinking that separates consistent scorers from occasional ones, and it fits the profile Plymouth need. Pepple stepped up as the Pilgrims' primary frontman after Lorent Tolaj joined Bristol City in the summer, and his goals have helped the club string together four consecutive wins.

Eyes on the international stage

Pepple's League One form has not gone unnoticed beyond the third tier. He received a call-up to Canada's final squad ahead of the World Cup, though he is still waiting for his first senior cap and has not yet forced his way back into Jesse Marsch's plans. The ambition is clear.

"I just want to play as high as possible and obviously for me, the national team is a big one," he said. "I've got a taste of it, I want to get back there and I want to not just get called in, I want to play games and I want to score goals at that level."

For now, though, Plymouth supporters will be happy that the focus remains firmly on Home Park. Four wins, four goals in four outings, and a striker who has learned to celebrate after the ball crosses the line rather than before it. The mental shift, it turns out, has been worth every session on the psychologist's couch.

Frequently asked

How many goals has Bim Pepple scored for Plymouth Argyle this season?
Pepple has scored 20 goals since the start of 2026, and he has been on the scoresheet in each of his last four appearances for Plymouth Argyle.
What is guided visualisation and how does Pepple use it?
Guided visualisation is a technique where a player mentally rehearses specific match scenarios before a game, such as a one-on-one with the goalkeeper or a ball across the box. Pepple works through these sessions with a sports psychologist the day before matches to make those moments feel familiar when they arise on the pitch.
Has Bim Pepple been called up for the Canada national team?
Yes, Pepple received a call-up to Canada's final squad before the World Cup, but he is still awaiting his first senior cap and has not yet broken back into Jesse Marsch's plans.