With the disappointment of only taking one point from our last two home fixtures, a trip on the road seemed like a welcome on for Argyle. Especially as that away trip was to Dagenham and Redbridge who boasted only one victory in their previous ten matches. Similar to our last away trip to York City, the Daggers are very much in a relegation battle of their own. Added to that their poor recent form, it could be forgiven for the Green Army followers to expect a much needed three points, and with it to get back to winning ways. Looking at Argyle's opponents today and the one key player who stands out is evergreen 40 year old striker Jamie Cureton. Other notable additions include winger Ashley Hemmings and Trinidad and Tobago international Andre Boucaud. For the Green Army it was the same starting eleven that took to the field against Leyton Orient in the previous fixture.
Referee Darren Deadman got the match underway and it was the Daggers who took control of possession from the outset. Good early link up play between James Dunne and the lively Jodi Jones were causing the Green Army's back four a number of problems. Despite this lack of possession it was Argyle who created the first chance when Craig Tanner tried a right footed pot shot from just outside the area that flew high over Mark Cousins crossbar. Shortly after and a Graham Carey from the left was met by a Carl McHugh header that was easily captured by Cousins in the Dag and Red goal. Both of these chances were at best half chances and the match was meandering at a slow pace. Even the travelling Argyle fans were fairly muted compared to their usual vociferous nature. With the match becoming sloppy it was up to someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck. That man appeared to be the diminutive Jones, who had two good efforts a few minutes apart. The first came when Joss Labadie played a short ball to Jones on the right wing. With his back to goal, a few silky step overs bamboozled Gary Sawyer and he managed to turn, before firing a hard left footed effort that just cleared Christian Walton's crossbar at his near post. With this acting as a sighter, a few minutes Jones was at it again. It was an initial Hemmings effort that was well blocked by Curtis Nelson on the left hand side of the box that started it. As the ball looped up it fell to the oncoming Jones, who hit a smart left foot volley that Walton did well to save in the bottom corner. The Daggers were beginning to get on top, and the Green Army were not on their game. As half time approached their was still time for one more chance wen Labadie picked the ball up on the edge of the box. As he brought the ball under control, he cut inside of defender Luke Croll, before hitting a curling right footed effort that beat Walton but also cleared the crossbar. There was little else to report on a rather limp and boring first half, and when Deadman blew for half time with the score at 0-0, even the fans needed a break!
With Carey seemingly picking up an injury at half time, coined with an abject first half display from Josh Simpson, both were replaced. Ben Purrington came on in place of Carey and Ryan Brunt replaced Simpson. As the second half got underway, there was little suggestion that the changes were proving effective. An early speculative effort from Gregg Wylde was easily saved by Cousins and after that some real scrappy and poor play from both sides. The match was really proving to be a non classic! It was perhaps apt then that the opening goal came from rather limp Argyle defending. A hopeful long ball from Boucaud was flicked on by Dunne. Hemmings still had Croll to beat, but brushed him off with relative ease before closing in from the left hand side of the box. Walton was outfoxed by Hemmings drop of the shoulder, and with the big keeper on the floor, coolly slotted the ball past him at his near post. 1-0 to Dagenham and there could be no excuses for the Green Army. Surely there would now be a response from Argyle, but alas there was nothing. With respect to the Daggers, against a more confident and in form side the Green Army could have been blown away. As it was the match just appeared to be petering out to a 1-0 defeat. Tyler Harvey replaced Wylde for the last seventeen minutes, but again this had little to no impact on the match. Then as time was almost up, there came a moment that may hopefully come to define a successful season. With ninety three minutes on the clock and dejection on the faces of the Argyle fans, a long bal from Walton was flicked on by McHugh. Brunt chested the ball around Boucaud before running towards goal. As the defenders backed off he let fly with aright foot screamer from twenty five yards that flew past Cousins and into the roof of the net. There were hints of a deflection but Argyle didn't care, and somehow they had managed to salvage a point. Referee Deadman brought the match to a close and the Green Army got a very underserved point!
This match is one of those frustrating games to get a report from. Two poor sides, the fans quiet and without the last minute drama I was struggling to give this any coverage. What can I say other than this really was a dreadful performance and match of football in general. Where in the matches against Exeter City and Leyton Orient there were arguments Argyle possibly deserved more, in this match they deserved nothing. Perhaps to finish on a positive note is the Green Army now have two weeks to recover both their bodies and their form in anticipation of the visit to Home Park of Cambridge United. An improvement is definitely needed! Equally Argyle have only dropped to second in League 2 despite this grey patch of form and you could call getting a point in these circumstances 'Championship Form'? Whatever you choose to take from this game, I believe we have to back Derek Adams as we are fighting and in the mix for glory this season!
Best Player - Ryan Brunt
Attendance - 2344 (991 Argyle)
Next Game - 12/12/2015 Cambridge United (h) (League 2)
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| Din Dierendonck with Argyle striker Jake Jervis |
Today's fan is founder of the 'Belgian Green Army'! 22 year old Din Dierendonck from Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? 'I have been a fan since 2009'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'My earliest memory is the FA Cup match against Arsenal t the Emirates Stadium. It was the first Argyle match that I watched'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Argyle v Oxford United two seasons ago. We lost the match but it was my first time at Home Park and I had the time of my life'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Rory Fallon'
Best current Argyle player? 'Graham Carey'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'He has been brilliant so far, and the way he talks about the club is fantastic. He wants what is best for the team and you can see that. If there is one man who can get us back in League One and maybe even the Championship it's Derek Adams!'
Season Prediction? 'Top of the League!'
Prediction for our next match at home to Cambridge United? 'I think we will win 2-0 with a good strong performance from the lads. Adams will have used this training time to get them back in shape'
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