After the disappointment of the midweek robbery against Gillingham, came the hotly anticipated clash with Pompey in the first derby of the season...the Dockyard. Social media was awash with excitement from Argyle fans across the country and this spilled out onto match day with Home Park creating a fantastic feel good atmosphere on what was a bright sunny day. There was an air of optimism in the air, if a little caution as we up against free spending Portsmouth who came into the game after impressive wins against Dagenham and Redbridge and Derby County respectively. Their moniker as title favourites would hopefully be tested to the limit today.
It was Portsmouth who came out of the traps quickest and with barely a couple of minutes on the clock came their first opening. Matt Tubbs found the ball on the right before a deflected challenge sent it in to the path of Gareth Evans who had a one on one chance that McCormick did brilliantly to parry and the follow up was dealt with just as well, with Nelson hacking the ball clear. This was to be a sign of what was to come in a first half that Pompey dominated with a controlled and slick passing style. On 20 minutes Kyle Bennett found space on the edge of the box and made an attempt to curl the ball into the top left hand corner that McCormick again did excellently to prevent, tipping it over the cross bar. They were causing us all sorts of problems and it was only towards the end of the half that we got a foothold in the game with the again impressive Boateng catching a sweet volley from a left wing Wylde cross that just cleared the crossbar, with Pompey keeper Paul Jones well beaten. It was then the turn of Carey to catch a beautiful left foot volley on the edge of the box that Jones did well to tip over the bar. Just as it looked as if we were warming into proceedings, on the stroke of half time a needless penalty was given away. An attempted clearance from Boateng was charged down by Enda Stevens and the ball fell kindly, getting him goal side of Boateng who made a clumsy challenge close to the by-line. It was a moment of immaturity from Boateng and it cost us with Tubbs stepping up and confidently drilling the ball straight down the middle of the goal to send Pompey in 1-0 up at half time.
We came out with a bit more purpose in the second half but it wasn't to last long and Portsmouth were quickly back to their high pressing, slick passing game and for long periods we were chasing shadows. Tubbs and Evans had further chances to increase the lead sandwiched by a weak header from Carey that was easily saved by Jones. With 4 minutes remaining it was another penalty for the away side when Roberts seemed to just walk past the very disappointing Sawyer before being lazily brought down for what was another clear foul similar to the first. With Tubbs off the field it was Roberts who took responsibility, smashing the ball into the bottom right corner of the net and beginning the cue for the Argyle faithful to begin their exit with Pompey 2-0 up! For those that stayed the last 4 minutes provided what turned out to be our best period of the match. An impressive effort laden cameo from Ryan Brunt seemed to spark the rest of the team into life. The physical influence of him and Reid up front seemed to cause the otherwise very impressive Portsmouth defence problems, and it could be questioned as to why Adams didn't change things sooner? It was this combination that caused the problems leading to our goal. A long ball lofted into the box from Mellor forced Christian Burgess into a weak header which Wylde caught with a beautiful volley with the outside of the left boot which flew into the corner. The remaining minutes were all Argyle, forcing a succession of corners, but to no avail. Pompey held firm to win 2-1 and in fairness deserved the 3 points. It was the first real test to see if we can mix it with the big boys in League 2 and challenge for promotion. At the moment for me, the squad looks paper thin and with Jervis out and Nelson coming off with a nasty gash. It looks like we could do with another centre back and possibly another type of striker in attack. With the money and depth of squad Portsmouth have, this was no embarrassment but to fulfil the fan's ambitions for Argyle's future and to get out of the basement division, more additions and ideas will be needed! Bring on Carlisle and after 2 defeats hopefully we can get back to winning ways!
Best Player - Ryan Brunt
Attendance - 11476
Next Game - 18/08/2015 Carlisle United (h) (League 2)
This post brings with it the new feature of Match Day fan, 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 get in touch through one of the forums on FB, tagging me in Dan Stone. The next opening is for Northampton away and I will be on Coach 1 so please get in touch.
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| Alfie Mitchell |
Today's fan is 21 year old Alfie Mitchell from Redruth
How long have you been an Argyle fan for ? 'I've been an Argyle fan all my life.'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'My earliest PAFC memory was going to my very first Argyle match with my dad and my auntie. We played at home to Crewe and lost 4-1!'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Favourite Argyle match would have to be Rochdale 3 seasons ago. Lost 1-0 but survived the drop. Went mental on the pitch and went all over the roads holding traffic up whilst on the coach back'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Best all time Argyle player that I've seen with my own eyes would have to be Barry Hayles.'
Best current Argyle player? 'Best current Argyle player is Luke McCormick.'
General feeling around Derek Adams' appointment? 'Quite happy with Adams, was not expecting him but I'm pleased as we tend to do well under Scottish managers and he has brought in decent players.'
Season Prediction? 'Tricky one but if we sort out our defence and concede less then I would say top 7.'
Prediction for our next match at home to Carlisle United? '3-1 to Argyle. Pompey was a good game, they outclassed us, but there was poor refereeing. First penalty was soft and the second was a touch, and Argyle should of had a penalty. Great turn out as well. Don't know what Derek Adams' was playing at, we've got no defenders, so really we should have been playing defensive football rather than attacking until we get more defenders. Reuben Reid should not of played as it's obvious he's still suffering from the foot injury. Also formation should of been 4-4-2.'
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