When these two sides last met last in early September it produced a tight affair between two contrasting team styles. On that day Argyle came out on top, but it was far from smooth sailing in an each way encounter that finished 2-1. It was to be expected that today's match would be a similarly tough examination for the Green Army. It can also be noted that the Chairboys have a habit of harbouring ex players who have a fondness of scoring against Argyle. Most recently it was Jason Banton and previously Paul Hayes. Whilst Banton has fallen out of favour, Hayes remains in the team, and is joined by Gozie Ugwu and Paris Cowan-Hall respectively. Other major news in the Wanderers camp, was the transfer of hot prospect goalkeeper Matt Ingram to Queens Park Rangers. This left Wycombe with former deputy Alex Lynch between the sticks, with 46 year old goalkeeping coach Barry Richardson as back up on the bench. For the Green Army, it was a return to Adams tried and tested 4-3-2-1 formation, with Reuben Reid leading the line. Oskar Threlkeld and Josh Simpson were the lynchpins in midfield and Craig Tanner supporting in the central attacking midfielder role. Graham Carey was again on the bench alongside Argyle's two latest loan signings Jordon Forster and Daniel Nardiello.
The fans were eager in anticipation to see if the Green Army could take advantage of Northampton Town's lack of a fixture and return to the summit in League 2. Referee Philip Gibbs blew his whistle to start the first half and it wasn't long before another restart would be needed. The Chairboys won a corner on the right hand side and Joe Jacobsen whipped a left footed in swinger to the near post. Similar to one of the three goals Argyle conceded in last season's playoffs, Hayes blocked off Luke McCormick and a melee ensued. Bodies seemed to fly everywhere, and eventually after a number of attempted shots it was Ugwu who managed to hook the ball over McCormick and into the net from a lying down position. 1-0 to Wycombe and not the start the Green Army would have hoped for! Again though it was a positive response from the men in green, and a mazy run from Threlkeld meant he found space on the right and inside the box. However the shot failed to match the run and his weak effort was easily stopped by Lynch. Tanner was next to test the goal, when he skipped pat Aaron Pierre on the left, before flashing a left footed effort just wide. With Argyle in the ascendency a strange injury to Lynch occurred. With Wycombe winning a goal kick, the keeper went down in agony, seemingly having twisted his ankle collecting the ball. After some short physio treatment he decided to carry on. This proved to almost be a costly mistake, as when Lynch attempted to take the goal kick it was a short and poor one. Gregg Wylde collected the ball before dashing down the left wing and squaring it to Reid on a plate. However with Lynch down injured and the goal gaping he fluffed his lines, slicing the ball well wide. A lengthy delay started, and it ended with the stricken Lynch being stretchered off, and the welcoming of 46 year old Richardson to the fray. This was Richardson's first appearance of any note since 2005 and indeed a chance for Argyle to test the ageing keeper! The match continued and following a good block from an Ugwu effort by Curtis Nelson, the big defender freed Tanner down the right. He ran at the Chairboys' defence and steamed into the box, before running our of time, space and an angle to shoot, and Richardson gathered comfortably. The remainder of the half was much huffing and puffing. with a resolute Wycombe defence keeping the Green Army at bay, amidst a variety of different time wasting techniques. The tactics were working, and their seemed to be no love lost between rival managers Gareth Ainsworth and Derek Adams, who had a number of clashes on the touchline. Referee Gibbs eventually brought the first half to an end, in a match he had little control of, and ablaze with a comedy reel of poor decisions for both sides!
Seeing a need to find the key to unlock the Chairboys defence, Adams decided to make a change with Carey coming on for the ineffective Jake Jervis. This decision initially proved to be a fruitful one, with Carey showing a number of deft and clever touches for which he has become famous for at Home Park. Wycombe initially struggled to contain him, and he was finding time and space to weave his magic. Working from the right wing he glided past Jacobsen and Marcus Bean before finding Carl McHugh whose shot was well blocked by the impressive and commanding Pierre and the ball went out for a corner. From the resulting Carey corner the ball was flicked on and found McHugh in space from twelve yards out. He failed to properly connect with his left foot shot, and the ball trickled through to the grateful Richardson to collect. Another Carey corner and another chance, this chance the ball falling to Nelson, who hit a solid left foot effort, that was again well blocked by Pierre.Argyle were pressing and it wasn't long before Richardson was tested again. this time Tanner cut inside of Jacobsen on the right hand side, before sending a curling left footed effort that was too close to Richardson, who again gathered comfortably. With time running out, and the Green Army seemingly unable to break down the Chairboys defence, Adams made his second change. Noticing the impressive physicality of the side from Wycombe, it was lightweight Tanner off, and big and strong Ryan Brunt on in his place. Just after the change however, it was the Chairboys who nearly doubled their lead. Jacobsen found Matt Bloomfield inside the box on the left. He drilled a left foot shot that was well parried by McCormick, but straight back into Bloomfield's path. Another left foot effort, and another save, this time with his feet from McCormick. This chance seemed to spark a brief light back into Wycombe's play and barely a minute later a long range left foot shot from Jacobsen flashed just over McCormick's goal frame. The Green Army rallied again, and another chance came. However another frustratingly weak shot from McHugh was again easily claimed by Richardson. Brunt who had worked extremely hard since coming on, won a free kick from 35 yards out and up stepped Carey. He decided to go for goal, and his bouncing effort caused Richardson his first real problems, but he did well to parry wide. With the clock running low, Adams made his final change with new signing Nardiello replacing Threlkeld in a final roll of the dice. However despite a couple of McHugh half chances, with Argyle pushing forward it was Wycombe who went closer to doubling their lead. A free header from Pierre went wide when he should have really hit the target. And in the final dying embers, it was Luke O'Nien, whose header was well stopped by McCormick. Gibbs blew his final whistle to a chorus of boos in what was a shambolic display of officiating all round. However Wycombe played to their strengths and deserved the three points today!
Well what can be made of today's result. There were some ugly scenes from both benches at full time. This was probably borne out of frustration, due to a lack of ideas, in immobilising Wycombe's physical approach. In terms of the match, it was really spoilt by a catalogue of laughable decisions from the officials. It wasn't a great advert for League 2 football, but for me, the Chairboys were very good value for their win and they seem to be elixir that cause Argyle's potency to be annulled! Onwards to Huish Park and Yeovil Town next week and hopefully a change back to winning ways.
Best Player - Curtis Nelson
Attendance - 8458
Next Game - 06/02/2016 Yeovil Town (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
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Today's fan is 18 year old Adam Price from Plymouth
How long have you been an Argyle fan for? 'As long as I can remember, with my first season ticket coming in 2013'
What's your earliest PAFC memory? 'Dave Smith's testimonial in 2004. Torquay were the opposition and if I remember rightly, we won 2-1'
Favourite ever Argyle match and why? 'From those I've been to, it would be the 3-2 win over Tranmere last season. Not the best in terms of quality, but the atmosphere around the ground as we made the Playoffs was fantastic!'
Best all time Argyle player? 'Mickey Evans'
Best current Argyle player? 'Graham Carey'
General feeling around Derek Adams' performance so far? 'Very impressive. Needs to hold things together as we approach the run in'
Season Prediction? 'I think we will scrape third on the last day of the season and scrape promotion!'
Prediction for our next match away to Yeovil Town? 'We haven't lost two in a row in the league this year, so I think we'll get a much need return to winning ways. 2-1 to Argyle!'
