Westward Ho! (Not a letdown)
Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 10:08 pm
Well, Eastward for me actually. And a half a biscuit to anyone who gets the song reference in the subject line...
Anyway, pre-match Mr Silver assured me we were going to win because Plymouth hadn't lost at home all season and that's how it works. I pointed out that we hadn't lost in Devon for years and were bound to lose in front of my kids, who had never seen us lose away til now.
First half I resigned myself to being right - Argyle looked better than us all over the pitch. Hylton carved himself out a couple of chances but, apart from that, we offered absolutely nothing going forwards and were being run ragged by Alessandra (sp?) at the back.
As any fule kno (even those that weren't there), the game changed on a sending off. Sam Long, already on a yellow, approached a 50-50 ball. 'Don't dive in!' I shouted. Thankfully he didn't. The Plymouth player, thinking that Long would, dived in himself. Straight red. No complaints. Apparently it was his third start, and the first time his parents had watched him. He looked devastated, as well he might. It cost his team the game.
Not that we took much immediate advantage, but to his credit Appleton made some positive substitutions at half-time, and we started to get back into it, culminating with James Roberts' beautiful curling winner into the top corner.
Had we deserved it? Maybe. But let's not kid ourselves. We're far, far from the finished article.
Positives? Roberts' peach of a curler of course. And newbie Campbell also notched (did he actually touch it? Who cares!). Dunkley looked good - our best defender all game. Hylton again worked his socks off but was a little lacking in front of goal. Long looked assured while he was on the pitch. O'Dowda grew into the game after his introduction. Mullins looked pretty good as an attacking full-back, albeit against only ten men.
Negatives? THD had a poor game - constantly caught out of position in the first half, and Wright not really providing adequate cover, everything Plymouth did came down our left and we were lucky only to be a goal down at the break. Whing and Collins both looked ponderous until we had a man advantage. Burns flattered to deceive and didn't do enough really - potentially our best outlet but too many poor decisions.
Funnily enough, not having witnessed it, our defeat to top-of-the-table Shrewsbury didn't bother me particulary. It was pretty well expected. Likewise I'm not getting carried away with today's result. Had Plymouth not been a man down I have no doubt they'd have beaten us quite comfortably. But football's a funny old game, and we gained a desparately-needed three points, and got to sing Jingle Bells at our only festive away fixture!
Up The Manor!
Anyway, pre-match Mr Silver assured me we were going to win because Plymouth hadn't lost at home all season and that's how it works. I pointed out that we hadn't lost in Devon for years and were bound to lose in front of my kids, who had never seen us lose away til now.
First half I resigned myself to being right - Argyle looked better than us all over the pitch. Hylton carved himself out a couple of chances but, apart from that, we offered absolutely nothing going forwards and were being run ragged by Alessandra (sp?) at the back.
As any fule kno (even those that weren't there), the game changed on a sending off. Sam Long, already on a yellow, approached a 50-50 ball. 'Don't dive in!' I shouted. Thankfully he didn't. The Plymouth player, thinking that Long would, dived in himself. Straight red. No complaints. Apparently it was his third start, and the first time his parents had watched him. He looked devastated, as well he might. It cost his team the game.
Not that we took much immediate advantage, but to his credit Appleton made some positive substitutions at half-time, and we started to get back into it, culminating with James Roberts' beautiful curling winner into the top corner.
Had we deserved it? Maybe. But let's not kid ourselves. We're far, far from the finished article.
Positives? Roberts' peach of a curler of course. And newbie Campbell also notched (did he actually touch it? Who cares!). Dunkley looked good - our best defender all game. Hylton again worked his socks off but was a little lacking in front of goal. Long looked assured while he was on the pitch. O'Dowda grew into the game after his introduction. Mullins looked pretty good as an attacking full-back, albeit against only ten men.
Negatives? THD had a poor game - constantly caught out of position in the first half, and Wright not really providing adequate cover, everything Plymouth did came down our left and we were lucky only to be a goal down at the break. Whing and Collins both looked ponderous until we had a man advantage. Burns flattered to deceive and didn't do enough really - potentially our best outlet but too many poor decisions.
Funnily enough, not having witnessed it, our defeat to top-of-the-table Shrewsbury didn't bother me particulary. It was pretty well expected. Likewise I'm not getting carried away with today's result. Had Plymouth not been a man down I have no doubt they'd have beaten us quite comfortably. But football's a funny old game, and we gained a desparately-needed three points, and got to sing Jingle Bells at our only festive away fixture!
Up The Manor!