Following on from the poor performance and deserved defeat to Carlisle United on Saturday, Argyle went into their second successive cup match in just three days. On this occasion it was a visit from Millwall to Home Park in the Johnstones Paint Trophy Southern Section Quarter Final! A tongue twister if ever I heard one! The Lions were currently sitting in eighth in the League One table and with the best away record in their division, tonight would prove an ominous task for the Green Army defence. With regular goalkeeper David Forde away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, it was an opportunity for Scotland U21 international stopper Jordan Archer to stake a claim in the Millwall starting line up. Despite it being a JPT encounter and lying just outside the League One playoffs, the Lions boasted a strong starting line up. Key notable features were former Norwich City, Welsh international and Premier League forward Steve Morison, as well as in form striker Lee Gregory, ex Chelsea academy starlet George Saville and Trinidad and Tobago international Carlos Edwards. For Argyle, and with their small squad beset by a piling up of injuries there were only two changes from Saturday, with Gregg Wylde coming in for Ryan Brunt and Oscar Threlkeld replacing Josh Simpson for his first start of the season. This meant another opportunity for Jake Jervis to impress up top after a dismal performance away at Oxford earlier in the season.
Referee James Linington got things under way, and the crowd were hoping for a response to the poor efforts on Saturday. The opening exchanges were played fluidly, and it was noticeable that both Millwall and Argyle were both football playing sides. With the Lions keeping possession well it was the Green Army who had the first attempt. Quick link up play on the edge between Graham Carey and Wylde, led to the latter having a hard of space on the right hand edge of the eighteen yard box. However, on his unflavoured right foot the ball sailed across Archer's goal and well wide. Shortly after a free kick won on the left was taken by Carey. He swung in the ball to the far post and Curtis Nelson met it with a looping effort that beat Archer but pinged off the top of the crossbar. The signs were promising, even if Millwall were showing their prowess and extra quality with slick passing. Just as the game was settling the Lions struck. A quick throw in from Joe Martin to Shaun Williams, followed by a neat one two led to Williams finding space on the left corner of the edge of the box. He then sent a lovely curling in swinging cross into the box. Gregory got in front of Nelson and glanced a well timed flicked header over the defender and towards the far corner. Luke McCormick made a diving effort to save, but his finger tip touch did nothing to stop the ball nestling in the corner of the net. 1-0 to Millwall but still very much in the game. After the goal the match settled for short period before the Argyle equaliser arrived. Gary Sawyer sent in a cross from the left and Jervis trapped the ball well with his back to goal. In a flash he turned Lions' defender Mark Beevers and lashed the ball into the roof of the net with his right foot! 1-1 and the fans were back roaring the Green Army on! With such an open game being played, it was probably inevitable there would be more goals. But Millwall's second goal was a very poor one to concede and something I am sure Derek Adams will not be happy about! Another cross from the left by Williams, this time a corner, was met by a weak far post header from Beevers back across the goal. With Carl McHugh and Craig Tanner both standing on the far post it seemed well covered and easy to clear. A mix up in communication meant that neither of them attempted the clearance and the ball trickled in. The Lions regaining the lead at 2-1, McCormick looking perplexed and rightly so. Although scored just two minutes before the break, there was still time for an Argyle resurgence of sorts. Just before half time, it looked like the equaliser had come. Kelvin Mellor picked the ball up on the right wing and hit a first time in swinging cross that was met by McHugh. that was heading for the left corner. Archer did brilliantly well to palm it away and the half time whistle blew shortly after to bring to an end a quite event filled first period!
At just 2-1 down and with a positive end to the first half there was a real feeling that the game was still live and there for the taking. The second half got underway, and again poor defending let the Green Army down. Morison played a simple ball through the middle, and with the Argyle defence wide open Gregory closed in on goal. Knocking the ball to his right to open an angle he hit a drive across McCormick. Although parried by the Green Army shot stopper, it was parried straight back to Gregory who happily accepted the invitation to double his own personal goal tally and extend the Lions' lead to 3-1! With the game seemingly going beyond Argyle, there was yet another twist in this up and down affair! Carey had been kept quite quiet all evening, with homework being done on his dangerous left foot and defenders doubling and sometimes even tripling up on him. When he picked the ball up a full thirty five yards out the Millwall defence stood off almost inviting him to shoot. Carey duly obliged, getting the ball out of his feet before unleashing an unstoppable, swerving and dipping effort that flew into the top corner of the net. 3-2 and easily the best goal I have ever witnessed at Home Park. Yet another resurgence started, quickly followed by yet another defensive howler! This time it was Peter Hartley's turn to make a hash of a simple clearance. A long punt downfield by Aiden O'Brien was seemingly being easily headed clear. However instead of heading up field, bizarrely Hartley tried to head to Nelson who was a couple of yards to his right. With Gregory sandwiched between them the ball hit his back before looping into the box. In quite comical defending, both Nelson and Hartley were turned with ease, before the latter blatantly pulled Gregory back and down from a quite clear goal scoring opportunity. On another day a definite red card, perhaps he was saved by Nelson's near presence? Albeit however, a penalty had been given that Gregory confidently dispatched, sending McCormick the wrong way and slotting the ball down the centre of the goal. 4-2 to Millwall and surely the game was up? Adams brough Brunt on for Tanner and another positive response from Argyle was forthcoming. However this time it wasn't to be successful! With the Green Army piling forward, more gaps began appearing for the classy Millwall forwards to exploit. A long ball up field from Sid Nelson found Gregory on the right. He held the ball up long enough before playing a wonderful side footed pass into the box and across the face of the goal. The ball was so well timed to O'Brien in between two Argyle defenders and he side footed past McCormick from six yards to make it 5-2 and with it secure the result. With respect to the Green Army, they still showed endeavour and heads didn't drop. Simpson came on for Wylde for the final twenty minutes and the team were still pressing on in gloomy circumstances. Ben Purrington came on for Hartley for the closing stages and there was still time for Jervis to have the final say in this incredible match. Jervis picked the ball up in the middle of the Lions' half. He drove at the defence and Brunt made a clever run to draw the Millwall defence out of position. Jervis kept on running to the edge of the box before hitting a right foot effort across Archer and into the bottom corner. It was now amazingly 5-3, but t was too late for any sort of comeback. Shortly after the referee blew for the final whistle and this particular match for the neutral was over.
Taking into account Saturday's performance this was a marked improvement in terms of desire and endeavour. However the defensive lapses were atrocious and McCormick's surety in goal appears to be waning. Perhaps a loan signing to put real pressure on the goalkeeper may make for shrewd January business. That being said, it appears cup matches seem to bring out the Green Army's worst defensive frailties. In sixteen league matches this season, Argyle boast the best defensive record in conceding just eleven goals. The same number of goals have also been conceded in just five cup matches! With league action returning with a trip to lowly York City on Saturday, perhaps being out of the cups will prove a blessing rather than a curse!
Best Player - Jake Jervis
Attendance - 5869
Next Game - 14/11/2015 York City (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 be 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 part of a team of writers. Please come and visit and support the site and it's writers. It is a great site with a broad range of opinions and views.
Today's fan is 42 year old Andrew Chapman from Leeds (Andrew also helps with Greens on Screen. Check them out, they take great shots of the Green Army both at Home Park and on our travels. You can find them at www.greensonscreen.co.uk)
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? 'Since my Dad first took me when I was very young. Not sure specifically. I would have been younger than 10, so I've been a Green for 30 plus years'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'I cant remember my first game. I reckon it would have been either 1981/82 or 1982/83 season. The first game etched me in memory however was the epic 6-4 win against Preston North End a few seasons later. Amazing match!'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'The promotion night at Rochdale away under Luggy. Never thought it would happen until it did! Likewise Wembley as I never thought we'd get there (even if it was a very dull game!)'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Sir Thomas of Tynan'
Best current Argyle player? 'Probably Graham Carey as he has been the attacking creative midfielder we have lacked for so many seasons now'
General feeling Derek Adams' performance so far? 'He has been very astute, and I think we must be doing better than even he could imagine! There's something about this cub and Scottish managers isn't there? '
Season Prediction? 'Anything less than top 3 would be devastatingly disappointing'
Prediction for our next match away to York City? 'York 2 Argyle 1 - on the basis that I feel like the wheels have fallen off a bit. We rarely do well at York and I am a pessimistic so and so! Hope I am wrong! We are due a win there'
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