Following on fro the entertaining win at home to Stevenage, came the challenge of Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium. The Gas came into the match in imperious form, on a solid run of results, most recently the 2-1 victory over Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium the previous Sunday. Goal score from the reverse fixture at Home Park, Ellis Harrison had moved on loan to Hartlepool United, but the Pirates had secured the services of former Cambridge United striker Rory Gaffney on a permanent deal. For Argyle, it was the same, with Ryan Brunt and Reuben Reid continuing in attack with Gregg Wylde and Jake Jervis down the flanks. Craig Tanner again had to settle for a place on the bench, and the back four and goalkeeper Luke McCormick kept their places. The biggest line up news of the day, was the welcome return from injury of Graham Carey to the match day squad, taking a place on the substitutes bench. Today's opponents would provide a stern test of the Green Army's credentials and it would be interesting to see how the team fared.
Referee Oliver Langford got the match underway and it was Argyle who came out of the traps the quickest. Brunt was the first to test the Gas defence, cutting inside of Tom Lockyer on the left before having his right footed shot well blocked by Tom Parkes. Not long after and a corner from the left from Jervis was met by a solid Carl McHugh header that dropped just wide of goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall's goal. The Green Army were having the better of the opening quarter, but Rovers soon began to come back into the match. Matty Taylor found some space just outside the Argyle eighteen yard box, b3fore sending a right footed dipping effort that was well claimed by McCormick. A few minutes later and this time it was Lee Brown who hit a solid right footed strike that fizzed just past McCormick's near post. The match was well balanced, bit it was the Green Army who came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half. Wylde, who had been making great strides down the Argyle left wing hit a stinging left footed drive that flew past Mildenhall and crashed off the crossbar. Not long after and a Reid header just flew over the bar from a Gary Sawyer cross. The Green Army were getting closer, but the best chance came just before the break. Wylde again found space on the left, before pinging in a wonderful left footed cross. Reid brought the ball down with a fine touch and it fell invitingly for Jervis to just seemingly find the net. He made a great connection with his right foot, and with Mildenhall beaten, it was Lockyer who produced a fantastic block and send the ball over the crossbar. Argyle were on top, and just after a Peter Hartley header went close, referee Langford brought the game to a close for half time.
With Argyle probably just shading the first half, it was probably the Gas who would have felt more comfortable with a break in proceedings. With the resumption of the second half, the match was finely poised and it was the Green army again who initially started well, with the impressive Wylde again finding space, only to see his shot blocked by the Rovers astute defensive line. Pirates manager Darrell Clarke, then made a couple of changes with Billy Bodin and Cristian Montano replacing James Clarke and Lee Mansell respectively. The changes seemed to have the desired effect as the Gas came back into the game. Rovers first chance of note of the second half fell to Brown, who chested the ball down from twenty five yards and hit a flying shot, that fortunately for McCormick was straight down the middle, and he gathered comfortably. With the team from Bristol beginning to get a stranglehold on the game, Derek Adams made his first change, with Tanner coming on in place of Reid. Almost immediately Tanner made an impact! Showing trickery and great feet on the left, he evaded two challenges, before firing a right footed shot, that yet again was blocked by the solid looking Lockyer. No doubt showing everyone just why he had recently received the Football League Young Player of the Month award! With the match going from end to end, it was the Gas who almost took the lead. A cross from Montano found Taylor at the far post. He controlled the ball and hit a solid low left, that McCormick did fantastically well to stop at his near post and hold onto. The match was really there for the taking and following further close Green Army efforts from McHugh and Jervis, it was Rovers who had their moment. A Montano cross from the left was sent into the box. a scramble ensued and the ball pinged out to Jermaine Easter at the far post. he managed to flick the ball high into the air and it was Billy Bodin who got his head to the ball first, nodding it past McCormick and sending the home fans wild. With just ten minutes left on the clock, would Argyle be able to get back into the match? The response came thick and fast, with Curtis Nelson being sent forward for every set piece and a do or die attitude was implemented by Adams to the players. With just two minutes remaining, the equaliser finally came. A Tanner cross from the right was chested down by McHugh into the path of Josh Simpson. He then hit a superb out swinging right footed half volley that flew past Mildnehall and into the bottom right hand corner. In truth it was no more than the Green Army deserved, and a draw was probably a fair result. Both teams seemed to agree. There were two late Argyle changes, with Oscar Threlkeld coming on for Jervis and the return of the great Carey in place of the extremely impressive Wylde. It was a nice touch from Adams and Carey showed some nice touches in the few minutes of match time he had before the referee sounded the final whistle.
Overall, the match was typical of two in form sides, both slightly wary but with obvious quality. Both had spells in the match when they were on top and a draw was probably a fair result. However I do feel that had Argyle opened the scoring, a victory would have been had. Key features from the match were the continued resurgence of Wylde on the wing and McHugh taking on the mantle of combative midfielder with both hands. It's refreshing to see the team becoming more and more comfortable when playing in these big away games. There was a solidity and union to their play and the return of Carey brings up further optimism indeed. With other results in the league, namely Northampton Town's comfortable victory over Morecambe, the Green Army now lie second in the table. However with a solid none point cushion over the teams outside the automatic positions, cause for optimism should be high and I for one am starting to see the light at the end of the promotion tunnel!!
Best Player - Gregg Wylde
Attendance -10190 (1285 Argyle)
Next Game - 30/01/2016 Wycombe Wanderers (h) (League 2)
As always each match is featured with our Match Day fan feature, which is a short Q and A about Argyle related fodder and something that I hope to do for every match day. If you would like to be featured please feel free to contact 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
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Today's fan is 29 year old Ben Galatia from Barwell, Leicestershire
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? 'Since I was 14. that's when I went to my first game'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'Taking s girl from school to a game (When Jason Bent got owned). At half time she stood up and got ready to leave, thinking the game had finished!'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Vincent Pericard's hat trick game. Best atmosphere at a match (excluding derbys of course!)'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Peter Halmosi, but there are five that are very close'
Best current Argyle player? 'Luke McCormick'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? '10/10. He gets things done. He isn't interested in being a manager known for his personality. Instead he goes or one that I s known for results'
Season Prediction? 'Top 3'
Prediction for next match at home to Wycombe Wanderers? '3-2. Wycombe just took a beating after a poor display against Leyton Orient. They will be looking to com out fighting. However the mighty Greens are getting their spark back and after a draw at Bristol we should come away with the victory. Derek will be drilling the team into making more of our chances and I believe we will do so. We shouldn't underestimate Wycombe but we should have enough fire power to beat them'
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