Off the back of three straight victories, optimism was bountiful going into Argyle's final festive fixture. Another trip away from Home Park, but this time at an unfamiliar League 2 venue. Due to the tragic flooding events that have engulfed Cumbria, unfortunately Brunton Park was unavailable for use. Carlisle United have therefore had to ground hop both for home and away fixtures in recent weeks. Today's welcoming hosts were Blackburn Rovers and their 31000 capacity Ewood Park. For many of the Green Army faithful it was a first visit to the former Premier League champions ground and I may say our hosts were very hospitable indeed. Looking at the teams for the encounter and Argyle made one change from the side that faced Newport with Josh Simpson coming in for Craig Tanner in a more solid looking midfield four. For the Cumbrians, who were still without key strikers Jabo Ibehre and Hallam Hope due to injury, there were still plenty of dangers. Most notably midfielder Anthony Sweeney and left Danny Grainger who provide a potent threat down the left flank. Add to this burly striker Charlie Wyke and pacey finisher Derek Asamoah and the Green Army would have to be at their best to maintain the winning streak.
Referee Seb Stockbridge blew his whistle to get the match underway. A fast paced opening saw an early half chance for Derek Asamoah when fed in just outside box by Alex Gilliead. His quick right footed effort flashing just wide of Luke McCormick's near post. A few minutes later and the Argyle defence backed off of Gilliead and he sent a similar right footed effort to Asamoah's again just wide of McCormick's near post. This produced a berating of the defence from the big Green Army keeper and the team seemed to respond, pushing up and beginning to force Carlisle back. Jake Jervis was the first to test Cumbrians' keeper Mark Gillespie when he cut inside of Michael Raynes from the left, before hitting a cross shot that Gillespie saved well in the bottom left hand corner. Two minutes and this time it was Gregg Wylde cutting in from the right, skipping past Grainger before firing a left footed effort just over the crossbar. Argyle were beginning to apply more consistent pressure to the Carlisle backline and when the impressive and combative Oscar Threlkeld played a ball into the feet of Jervis, it was Jason Kennedy who clattered through the back of him, for an obvious free kick. With both Tanner and Graham Carey not on the pitch it was the in form Ryan Brunt who took responsibility. Placing the ball thirty yards from goal, he ran up and hit a superb right foot effort that appeared to take a slight deflection off of the Cumbrians' wall before flying past Gillespie and into the top left hand corner. Brunt may have had a few doubters when he stepped up, but he silenced them with a wonderful finish. 1-0 to the Green Army and the travelling faithful were rapturous once again. Rather the gung ho attitude of the early season Argyle performances, following the goal the team appeared happy to slowly control the rest of the first half without any chance for either side of note. The exception being a right footed scuffed effort from Asamoah that was easily saved by McCormick in the centre of his goal five minutes before the break. As referee Stockbridge blew for half time there was a real sense of control among the players and anticipation for the second half from the fans.
As is common in football the team that is losing at half time usually comes out with more purpose in the second half and today was no exception. An early free kick from Raynes was pumped into the Argyle box to be flicked on by Mark Ellis. Gilliead was first to react with a right footed overhead kick that was expertly parried away by McCormick at his right post before being hacked away by Kelvin Mellor. Shortly after and Derek Adams was enforced into his first and what would prove to be his only change when Jervis appeared to have a knock. He was duly replaced by Tanner for the remaining forty minutes of the match. Just after the change and Grainger had a hard right footed effort well blocked by Threlkeld just outside the box. With Carlisle starting on the front foot, the Green Army had a golden opportunity to double the lead on the break. Solid link up play between Wylde and Simpson saw the latter pull a ball back to the edge of the box from the left. Tanner was left unmarked and hit a first time left footed shot that was superbly blocked by Ellis, throwing himself in the line of fire. The match however had begun a similar tempo that would play out for the remainder of the half, with the Cumbrians pushing forward and Argyle using the pace of Wylde and Tanner on the break. Another ball looped into the box, this time from Kennedy, found Ellis free on the left. Mellor did just enough to put the big centre back off, as his left foot effort lacked power and was easily collected by McCormick. Shortly after yet another ball from Kennedy found its way to Wyke unmarked in the centre of the box. However he got his timing all wrong and his right footed effort was scooped over when it perhaps should of found the back of the net. Both Kennedy and Gilliead were causing problems with their crossing, and the latter was the next to find an unmarked player, this time Asamoah in the box. He got under his header however and the ball looped invitingly into the grateful clutches of McCormick. With Carlisle throwing everything at the Green Army, there were notable gaps to exploit on the break. Tanner showed great balance and pace to shirk off two Cumbrian challenges before feeding Wylde through on the left hand side of the box. Wylde however let the ball run too far across his body and when he fired his left foot shot it was easily saved by Gillespie at his near post. Another chance to seal the result for Argyle went begging and would it be punished? Another chance and another free header fell to Asamoah. Again fortunately he got underneath it and it looped just over the crossbar. On another day the Green Army's lack of adequate marking could have been punished. With fifteen minutes left and with players on both sides tiring, it was Threlkeld who was breaking up play and stopped the flow of crosses coming from the Cumbrians midfield. Indeed it was Argyle who created more chances as the game drew to a close. With three minutes remaining it was Brunt who lined up another free kick, this time from just twenty five yards! This time however his right footed effort just cleared Gillespie's crossbar. With time running out in stoppage time, and with Carlisle throwing absolutely everything and everybody at the Argyle defence, the vital second goal finally game. Tanner intercepted a Gilliead ball well in his own half before running the length of the pitch, evading challenges brilliantly and feeding Brunt on the right. Brunt hit a cross that was deflected by Cumbrians substitute Troy Archibald-Henville up and over the diving Gillespie, before Wylde sneaked in to tap the ball in on the line. 2-0 to the Green Army, cue amazing scenes on a very hard earned three points! There was still time for Tanner to have one more chance, and as he cut inside of a very tired Ellis it looked like he was going to give the Green Army a very flattering win, but he sent his right effort just wide of Gillespie's right post. Stockbridge put Carlisle out of their misery and blew for full time and a fourth win in a row for Argyle!
So first all a very Happy New Year to all the fans and readers. After five matches without a win, it is now four wins from four and twelve points from twelve. A very happy Christmas period indeed, both with results and with lucky weekends in terms of weather to avoid any postponements of the Green Army's fixtures. Whilst there are many positives going into the New Year, with the opening of the January transfer window, there is lots of work for manager Adams to do. Most notably it is the retention of our three important loanees Tanner, Threlkeld and Hiram Boateng respectively. All have played a vital part in Argyle's season and all would be most welcome to increase their loans to the end of the season! Add to that the constant speculation around the potential signing of Notts County and ex England international Alan Smith and it sounds as though the Scotsman is not resting on his laurels. There are some key matches coming in January against fellow promotion contenders in Northampton Town, Bristol Rovers and Wycombe Wanderers and it could prove vital that Adams gets his transfer dealings correct!
Best Player - Oscar Threlkeld
Attendance - 4415 (801 Argyle)
Next Game - 12/01/2016 Northampton Town (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 I plan 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 on 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. It's a great site with a broad range of opinions and views.
Today's fan is 26 year old Ryan Sonley from Plymouth
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? '20 or so years'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'Argyle winning the Playoffs at the old Wembley with Ronnie Mauge getting the only goal'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'Beating Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium. Jamie Mackie scored the only goal and Adam Johnson missed a late penalty for Boro. I got to wind my my Boro supporting granddad up!'
Best all time Argyle player? 'It's between two. Ronnie Mauge and David Friio'
Best current Argyle player? 'Three players who have been amazing for us this season and the reason we are top of the league. Graham Carey, Peter Hartley and Craig Tanner'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'He is a tactical genius. We were losing games and he has turned it around to get us back to winning ways'
Season Prediction? 'Top 3 definitely, but I would love us to win League 2, so I'm going to say Champions!'
Prediction for our next match at home to Northampton Town? 'Two quality sides and the biggest six pointer of the season. I think we will get a 2-1 victory with Brunt and Tanner getting the goals for us!'
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