On what was a glorious sunny afternoon down at Home Park, we welcomed the first of our local rivals of the season, Bristol Rovers. After bouncing back from relegation two seasons ago to return to league football at the first time of asking, their fans came in numbers to make for a raucous atmosphere between Pilgrims and Pirates respectively. Since their return from the Conference National (now the Vanarama National League!) Rovers have been a mixed bag in terms of their form. The Pirates came into the game on the back of three league wins and four league defeats, the most recent being their 1-0 reverse to Accrington Stanley last Saturday. Argyle however came into the game in great spirits, especially given our great result against promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers last weekend. As is usual Derek Adams kept a familiar line up and formation with the only change being a start for the impressive against Wycombe Craig Tanner, in place of the equally inept against Wycombe Gregg Wylde. As I mentioned the fans were in great voice hoping for us to continue our good form of late in what was predicted to be a fairly comfortable home win.
The first half got to off to a blistering start and an early free kick from the ever impressive Graham Carey caused problems for Pirates keeper Lee Nicholls, who just managed to turn it behind for a corner. From the resulting corner another chance was created. This time the ball fell to Hiram Boateng but he managed to drag the ball just wide of Nicholls post. The pressure was mounting and both Reuben Reid and Jake Jervis had headed chances that just went over the bar. Rovers were not without their own chances however. Matty Taylor also had a couple of early headers that Argyle's Luke McCormick gathered comfortably. The match was very open and Argyle were using their attacking threat well, causing a variety of problems for Bristol's back line. Boateng almost opened the scoring spectacularly when he attempted a curler from the edge of the box that went just high and wide with Nicholls well beaten. As half time approached there was a sense that Argyle should have been leading the game and we were almost punished for not taking one of our chances. Taylor cut in from the left and hit a quick shot through Peter Hartley's legs that McCormick did well to readjust and save. It was a little reminder of the need for alertness and to make sure that the Green Army kept awake in defence. The referee blew for half time and there was a sense this could be the first game of the season where Argyle could fail to make the net ripple!
There were no changes at the interval and Argyle started the second half in much the same vain as the first. It was great to see the enthusiasm and energy of the players taking the challenge on. Gary Sawyer had the first chance of the second half when he cut in from the left hand size of the Pirates' box. Once inside the box, he quickly flashed in a right footed shot that was well taken by Nicholls. Carl McHugh then fell awkwardly under a challenge and was replaced by Lee Cox. Early indicators suggest it was a hamstring injury that could unfortunately spell a lengthy layoff for him. Carey was more eager to make his mark on the game and found room for a shot after gliding past a couple of Rovers' challenges. However his shot lacked direction and Nicholls took it in his midriff. Jervis then should of scored from a Tanner cross, but Nicholls got a hand to his scuffed volley and sent it over. Tanner then made way for Wylde to give a fresh impetus on the wing, on what was becoming a frustrating afternoon at Home Park. Boateng then went on a run of his own, brushing past Pirates defenders before sending another effort sailing over the bar. Soon after, Reid got between his markers from a Carey corner but somehow inexplicably managed to send his header over the bar from just three yards out. There were chances coming from all angles and when Hartley started shooting from thirty five yards out it felt that we were never going to score! Ryan Brunt made his introduction for the stifled Reid with nine minutes remaining and it seemed a final roll of the dice from Adams to snatch the three points. All avenues were being exhausted and then with five minutes remaining we got the goal we deserved. A positive run from Wylde who had impressed in his thirty minute cameo ended with a fizzed ball into the box. It was met again by Jervis, but this time he caught a sweet half volley that hit Nicholls and flew into the right corner of the net. Cue enormous celebrations and immense relief around the stadium for Argyle fans! It was 1-0 and seemingly a well earned three points. Tactical genus Adams had got it right again, bringing on Wylde for Tanner this time to make the vital difference. But alas it wasn't to last and on the stroke of full time it was the turn of Rovers substitute Ellis Harrison to be the hero (or villain!) of the piece. A long ball forward was knocked on by fellow Pirates substitute Jamie Lucas, Harrison got there a split second before McCormick and the inevitable happened. Harrison's toe was caught and down he went for a definite but perhaps underserved penalty. After a stoppage of play for McCormick to receive treatment for a head clash he received in the challenge for the penalty, it was Harrison who took responsibility. Up he stepped and calmly sent the ball into the roof of the net for the equaliser, 1-1. The referee's assistant signalled eight minutes of additional time and this time the Argyle fans were cheering. There seemed to be a real feeling that the winner could be found after all. Everyone streamed forward and Carey sent a well hit shot that was too close to Nicholls who gathered comfortably. The Green Army continued to press and were so nearly caught out when a cross found Lucas at the far post. He headed back across goal and Tom Parkes sent a diving header for what was surely a Rovers winner. McCormick then produced a world class save by throwing a hand up and sending the ball up and over for a corner. The referee soon blew for full time and from what looked like a guaranteed three points eventually turned into a point saved in a matter of minutes thanks to McCormick's outstanding save!
Overall, for the neutral it was a really great game of football. Both teams created chances and the football played was expansive and a joy to behold. However there will be a feeling that this was two points lost rather than one gained. Whilst McCormick's late save can gloss over this fact, we were victims very much of our own downfall. In a similar circumstance to the match against Newport a few weeks back, when we are at home we seem wasteful with chances. On top of that, it could be argued that our game management needs more work. Against Newport we kept on attacking leaving ourselves open to a counter. Whilst in that game we got away with it, today proved that sometimes this approach can cause problems. Personally I am not a fan of closing games out, in what I call anti-football, by playing the ball into corners. But I guess those managers who are successful at the highest levels would disagree and because of that Adams will have some food for thought going into next weeks encounter away at Mansfield Town!
Best Player - Luke McCormick
Attendance - 10663
Next Game - 26/09/2015 Mansfield Town (a) (League 2)
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 ne featured please feel free to email me at
danstone84@hotmail.com or alternatively get in touch through social media. either on Twitter @danstone84 or on one of the Facebook forums tagging me in Dan Stone. My match reports also feature on
www.argyle.life where I am a part of a team of feature writers. Please come and visit and support the site and writers. It's a great site with a broad range of opinions and views.
Today's fan is 67 year old Steve Rhodes from Romsey, Hampshire
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? '58 years'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'First game v Northampton Town in November 1957. a 3-0 win'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Argyle 3 West Ham United 0 in FA Cup 3rd Round 6 January 1962. the finest display of one and two touch football I ever saw an Argyle team play. It remains the only home victory over a First Division/PL team in the club's history'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Johnny Williams'
Best current Argyle player? 'Graham Carey'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'We are at the start of a great adventure under this man!'
Season Prediction? 'Automatic promotion place'
Prediction for our next match away to Mansfield Town? '
I am going for a 3-1 win at Field Mill. From memory I think it is one of the few away grounds where we have played quite a lot of games and have managed to score more goals than we have conceded'
No comments:
Post a Comment