4 match's played, 3rd in the league and with 9 points on the board. Could this finally be the season that we leave the basement division? Although too early to begin getting excited for such a feat, the opening to Adams' tenure at Home Park has been as uplifting as it has been unexpected. Lots of goals, an array of positive new signings and a new found belief in the side set us up nicely for Saturday's encounter with Newport County. Looking at it on paper, there would only be one winner, with the Exiles managing a meagre one point from their first four matches. Although coming back in their previous encounter from 2-0 down against a rampant Leyton Orient, albeit to end up on the end of a 3-2, should have made sure caution was heeded.
Going into the game there were two changes from the side that lined up against Northampton Town last Saturday. Gregg Wylde was on the bench in place of Craig Tanner due to a thigh injury picked up at Sixfields. Equally Reuben Reid was out with the hamstring problem he picked up in the same game, being replaced by Ryan Brunt. There was rumour of this potentially being linked to Portsmouth boss Paul Cook's comments in the media of his interest in bringing him to Fratton Park. Claims that have riled Derek Adams and are so far unfounded! We will hopefully see Tuesday's transfer deadline pass with Reid still very much an Argyle player. Anyway on to today's match and for the first time this season we came out of the blocks at an enthralling pace. Perhaps buoyed by the positivity that filled Home Park and the confidence in our recent results. The boys were knocking the ball around confidently and expertly in the middle of the park and early on some neat footwork from Gary Sawyer, saw him find himself some space on the left corner of the box, drilling a left foot shot that was well saved by Rhys Taylor in the Newport goal. Graham Carey was also getting in on the act, cutting in from the right before hitting a scuffed shot towards the near post, again saved by Taylor. Not long after and a ball was played by Tanner across the box, Hiram Boateng brilliantly let it run through his legs and Carey struck a similar shot to his first effort, again with Taylor producing the save. Newport had barely been out of their half, and were only seeming to find space in our half due to what seemed a slight overconfidence in numbers of Argyle shirts plying forward. One of their few forays into our half ended with Yan Klukowski skiing a speculative 20 yard effort over the bar. Carey and Boateng were dominating the middle of the park and it wasn't long before Boateng stepped inside of a challenge, driving into the box and hitting a solid strike that went into Taylor's midriff. It was all Argyle.
Kelvin Mellor was having a particularly good game, maybe due to the recent loan signing of Oscar Threlkeld from Bolton Wanderers in midweek, keeping him on his toes. He cut inside and into the box on a number of occasions as well as hitting a lovely 30 yard shot just over. Ryan Brunt also fizzed a shot across the goal and just wide after good work creating the angle for himself. Fans were saying it was some of the best football they had seen in years at Home Park. Then right against the run of play Newport had a breakaway with striker Lenell John-Lewis cutting inside from the left and shooting with his right foot, hard and fast, producing a great reflex save from Luke McCormick. Almost a County smash and grab! Just as it felt that Argyle may not make our dominance count, it was none other than the magnificent Carey who made the difference. Seven minutes before half time, we were given a throw in on the left wing. Sawyer took the throw and it was chested down by Brunt for the oncoming Carey to fire home a sweet volley into the right corner of the net. It was absolutely no more than we deserved in a half where on another day it could have been 4 or 5. But for today we had to settle for 1-0 on the way to getting our half time Bovril!
After finishing our half time fare the lads were back out for the second half. Newport had made a change Aaron Collins coming on for the near non existent Scott Boden. Former England international and County manager Terry Butcher had to do something after watching his side be on the receiving end of a totally dominant first half performance form the Green Army. The half started at a more gentile pace, with the Pilgrims keeping possession but Newport showing a bit more than on their abject first half effort. A Scott Barrow free kick went close for them, narrowly missing McCormick's near post before Jake Jervis cut in from the left, similarly to when he scored against Carlisle, but this time slicing a shot that Taylor made a hash off, with the ball looping just over him and the crossbar. Carey was showing some lovely touches and making a few openings, sometimes being slightly over zealous taking long range pot shots when an easier pass down the flanks was available. Josh Laurent replaced Danny Holmes for Newport and Wylde came on for Tanner for the last 25 minutes. Tanner had an okay game, but looks like he overthinks things sometimes. He was great against Gillingham in the League Cup and needs to get back to that for an extended spell in the side. Wylde's introduction sparked a bit more life into Argyle and he forced a croner, which Carey took and Carl McHugh headed just over at the near post. We just couldn't get that second goal to kill them off, like we had done at Northampton last week. We were almost punished when the Exiles substitute Laurent fired just wide from outside the box. Peter Hartley then went up the other end and had a shot at the break down of a corner that was again well saved by Taylor. Newport made their final substitution with former Argyle player Zak Ansah coming on for Klukowski. Ansash received a warm reception from the Argyle faithful, but he almost spoiled the party shortly after. The Green Army were beginning to tire and Newport seemed to find a second wind. Ansah found the ball on the edge of the box, cut inside and fired a shot that cannoned back off McCormick's crossbar. We all breathed a sigh of relief!! Argyle then forced a free kick that produced an outstanding strike from Carey that hit right where the post and crossbar meet. It would have been no more than we deserved but the game looked to be petering out to what can only be described as one of the most one sided 1-0 score lines you are ever likely to see. Newport had one last effort with Collins tame effort being comfortably saved by McCormick before the referee blew his whistle for full time and a 1-0 win.
It was a brilliant performance with so many candidates for man of the match. We look so much like a team and Adams's has a real attack minded focus for the team. This can sometimes be nervy but is far removed from the performances under John Sheridan last season. There are things to work on, like Tanner playing to his strengths and hoping that we keep Reid come 6pm on Tuesday, but the signs are positive. Wimbledon are up next in the Johnstones Paint Trophy on Tuesday and it will be a chance for Adams' to blood a few of the younger players. I for one hope the likes of Louis Rooney, Aaron Bentley, Ben Purrington, Callum Hall and the Harvey brothers get some game time. If just one or two of them. But it's Adams who will be the architect of that and I and I'm sure all Argyle fans are happy with any decisions he chooses to make right at this moment in time!
Best Player - Graham Carey
Attendance - 7811
Next Game - 01/09/2015 AFC Wimbledon (a) (Johnstones Paint Trophy Southern Section 1st Round)
As always each match report is featured with our Match Day fan feature, which is a short Q and A about Argyle related fodder and something I hope to do for every match day. If you would like to be featured please feel free to email me at
danstone84@hotmail.com or alternatively get in touch through social media. Either on Twitter at @danstone84 or on one of the Facebook forums tagging me in Dan Stone. This week I have kindly be asked by Argyle Life to be a feature writer for them after seeing my blog. Please come and visit and support the site and writers at
www.argyle.life. Its a great site with a broad range of opinions and views on all things Green Army. Thanks!!
Today's fan is 55 year old Diane Aggett-Magro from Nottingham
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? 'Been a fan all my life. Well since I was old enough to understand, so since I was 6 years old'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'My first memory is my Dad and Uncle taking me to Home Park in 1973. I remember having my photo taken and seeing myself in the Herald's match day pictures the next day!'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Wembley 1996 when we beat Darlington to win promotion. I was my daughter's first ever time at a football match and my father in law's first time at Wembley!'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Best all time player in my eyes is Paul Mariner'
Best current Argyle player? 'Luke McCormick'
General feeling around Derek Adams' appointment? 'I like the start we have made and that Adams' isn't scared to change things when they are not working'
Season Prediction? 'I think we will finish 2nd given the start to the season'
Prediction for our next match away to AFC Wimbledon? 'I think it will be 2-1 to Argyle, just going on our form at present'
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