So to another away day, and this time a trip to Field Mill (Now the One Call Stadium!), the Football League's oldest ground and home of Mansfield Town. Argyle came into the match off the back of the last minute disappointment of last weekend's match with Bristol Rovers. Derek Adams has kept pretty much the same philosophy and formation since the start of the season but today was forced into one change and made another. Cark McHugh was out with an hamstring injury sustained in last weekend's match with the Pirates and Josh Simpson was preferred over Lee Cox as a like for like replacement. The other notable change being a slight shock as both Gregg Wylde and Craig Tanner were left out and Ryan Brunt came in to partner Reuben Reid up front in a new 4-4-2 starting formation. This meant an unfamiliar role on the left wing for this season's best performer Graham Carey. No doubt a move by Adams to make use of his exquisite left foot delivery! Mansfield themselves have a number of notable players that include former Burnley and Premier League stopper Brian Jensen in between the sticks as well as star performer Malvind Benning, himself a product of the Walsall academy. A special mention also has to go to their striker Matt Green, who was prolific in the Conference for them before an ill fated and injury plagued two season stay at Birmingham City resulted in him returning to the Stags in the summer. Speaking to fans of both clubs before the game showed there was ambition on both parts with Mansfield fans aiming for a playoff spot and the Green Army faithful hopeful of securing an automatic promotion berth. It made for an intriguing match up and hopefully a good game!
The first half got underway and from the outset it was a purposeful Argyle who made the first inroad in the match. Peter Hartley found himself on the left wing and played a beautiful cross field ball into the path of the onrushing Reid. He caught the ball excellently with a first time right footed volley that sailed over Jensen but cannoned back off the crossbar. Argyle were keeping possession well but were struggling to create too many chances with the creative Carey isolated out on the left wing. It was the Stags who had the next chance when Lee Collins found a bit of space but dragged his right footed well wide of Luke McCormick's left post. Shortly after Carey cut in from the left wing and sent a right footed shot that Jensen collected comfortably in his midriff. Ryan Tafazolli then went close with a speculative overhead kick that again flashed wide of the post. Kelvin Mellor and Jake Jervis were having particularly good games, linking up well down the right wing and causing problems for the Mansfield defence. In one of these right wing forays Jervis found Reid who flicked on to send Carey in, one on one, with Jensen only to see the big Danish keeper spread himself well and save with his feet. Mansfield were just as much in the game as Argyle and it was former Pilgrim Nathan Thomas who was the architect of most of their attacks. A header saved easily by McCormick was quickly followed by a jinking run into the box that ended with a left footed drive that flashed across McCormick's goal and just wide of the post. Craig Westcarr also created a couple of half chances that ended with efforts well off target. With half time approaching it was Argyle who almost broke the deadlock when Jervis cut inside before flashing an effort just wide of Jensen's post. The match closed for half time and for the second week in succession it remained goalless for Argyle.
The second half opened in much the same vein as the first, with the Green Army starting well. Carey looked hungry to make an impact and he nearly opened the scoring from a free kick won by Jervis. With Hartley and Curtis Nelson up from the back, Carey shaped to whip a cross in but instead cheekily went to catch out Jensen at his near post. Jensen recovered well however and dived to keep it out at the last minute. Carey was in the mood now though, and was a constant thorn in the sides of Mansfield centre backs Tafazolli and Krystian Pearce, jinking in and out of challenges and creating angles to shoot. For today however Jensen was proving an immovable object, a similar Carey free kick was again well saved at Jensen's near post and when a left footed drive from Carey did mange to beat Jensen, it also beat the Stags' keeper's post as well. Adams made changes with Tanner coming on for Reid and Wylde replacing Jervis but it was beginning to look like it could be 'one of those day's' for the Argyle boys. Another Carey free kick was superbly executed but just flew over Jensen's crossbar and when he was replaced with three minutes remaining in place of Oscar Threlkeld (making his third appearance of the season) it seemed Adams was settling for a point. Mansfield who had been reduced to shots from outside the box in the second half nearly landed a sucker punch right at the death. Hartley slipped in possession, thus letting in Stags substitute Matty Blair in one on one with McCormick. Fortunately he fluffed his lines and somehow managed to send the ball high and wide. After that the match then petered out. Hiram Boateng who had bravely played on after an earlier head clash had a final chance with a header. But Jensen was not to be beaten today and referee Mark Brown brought proceedings to a close and the match finished 0-0.
As a fan today this was probably the most boring but not the worst performance I've seen this season. Mellor is growing more and more and continues to make me eat humble pie after my early season's critique. Carey again made a huge argument to be man of the match and he arguably does every week. Jervis again proved his importance to the side and Hartley (with the exception of the late mistake) and Nelson were solid at the back. McCormick's catching and presence no doubt helps the defence and I felt this was a game we deserved and probably should of won. From early on it felt like this may be a 0-0 and it is the first time we have failed to score this season. We also have an impressive defensive record away from home in the league, only conceding three in our first five away fixtures. That being said this was one of those games where stealing the three points may be the difference between promotion or not later down the line. However this is all subjective and we have to be pleased with our early season form. Our next two league matches are at home against Barnet and Crawley respectively and if we can come through those with six points the chants of 'Scottish Mourinho' will seem ever more believable and not so much in jest!
Best Player - Kelvin Mellor
Attendance - 3185 (463 Argyle)
Next Game - 29/09/2015 Barnet (h) (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 be featured please feel free to email me at
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Today's fan is 27 year old Michael Todd from Plymouth
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? '12 years'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'My first ever game was on the 24th January 2003 and we lost 1-0!'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'My favourite Argyle game was against Colchester United in 2004. We were receiving the Second Division trophy and it was a great day out at Home Park'
Best all time Argyle player? 'David Friio'
Best current Argyle player? 'Luke McCormick (Super Luke)'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'I am happy. I think Derek Adams will take us up'
Season Prediction? 'I think automatic promotion'
Prediction for our next match at home to Barnet? 'I think 2-0 to Argyle because we have just had two draws and we are due a win!'
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