Plymouth Argyle 3 Mansfield Town 1
A flattering Scoreline
By Finley Allen
Plymouth Argyle picked up their 9th win in 10 league games, as they beat a valiant Mansfield Town side who on another day might have felt they could have come away with 3 points.
The warning signs for Argyle began in the very 1st minute, when Alex Palmer blocked a CJ Hamilton header on the line, after a good dinked cross by former Argyle loanee Alex McDonald.
Argyle really struggled to find their feet in the first half an hour as they struggled to break through Mansfield's midfield, and were perhaps surprised that Mansfield, had tried to match up their system, rather than their tried and tested 4-4-2 formation.
The next two chances were Mansfield’s. On the counter, Argyle were caught out and former Bury striker Nicky Maynard got in behind the furthest player back, Tyreeq Bakinson to put him one on one with Palmer, but once again he stood up well to keep the score at a deadlock. The next chance fell to Hamilton again, as once again, Argyle’s backline was penetrated too easily. His shot from 6 yards was put wide of the post his expression said it all, it was a poor miss but once again Palmer was well positioned to cut off his options.
Whilst Argyle would have found themselves lucky to be at 0-0 they responded with a thunder strike aforementioned Bakinson, who hit the right hand post with a venomous volley, from outside of the box after a corner.
The first goal came in the 43rd minute, when a free kick was expertly delivered by George Cooper, onto the head of the dependable Niall Canavan, to put argyle one up going into half time.
Argyle managed to respond in the second half as they had better ball retention, and were less sloppy in their decision making.
However, a heroic block from Canavan on the line after Maynard had shot beyond Palmer, kept Argyle in the lead.
The Greens used the wake up call to secure the second goal of the game, when a needless push from a Mansfield defender in the box resulted in a penalty, which Antoni Sarcevic confidently slotted away.
Mansfield threatened to make the game into a nervy contest when striker Andy Cook scored an opportunistic volley, which went over Alex Palmer. In truth after that Mansfield struggled to create any chances of note, as Argyle saw out the game.
The Green Army’s nerves were settled when Niall Canavan’s ball sailed over Mansfield defenders heads and was latched onto, by speedy, on loan striker Ryan Hardie who was composed as he scored his second goal in as many games, to seal the win.
This was by no means a typical performance by Argyle. They could have easily have been down and out in the first half, against a Mansfield side, who with the squad at their disposal might think they should be higher up the table, and for the visiting fans an experience that many of the Green Army experienced in the earlier part of the season. The bottom line is strikers have to put away chances.
In coming games Argyle will feel they will have to perform better in coming games if they want to make themselves true automatic promotion contenders.
Man of the Match Alex Palmer
A flattering Scoreline
By Finley Allen
Plymouth Argyle picked up their 9th win in 10 league games, as they beat a valiant Mansfield Town side who on another day might have felt they could have come away with 3 points.
The warning signs for Argyle began in the very 1st minute, when Alex Palmer blocked a CJ Hamilton header on the line, after a good dinked cross by former Argyle loanee Alex McDonald.
Argyle really struggled to find their feet in the first half an hour as they struggled to break through Mansfield's midfield, and were perhaps surprised that Mansfield, had tried to match up their system, rather than their tried and tested 4-4-2 formation.
The next two chances were Mansfield’s. On the counter, Argyle were caught out and former Bury striker Nicky Maynard got in behind the furthest player back, Tyreeq Bakinson to put him one on one with Palmer, but once again he stood up well to keep the score at a deadlock. The next chance fell to Hamilton again, as once again, Argyle’s backline was penetrated too easily. His shot from 6 yards was put wide of the post his expression said it all, it was a poor miss but once again Palmer was well positioned to cut off his options.
Whilst Argyle would have found themselves lucky to be at 0-0 they responded with a thunder strike aforementioned Bakinson, who hit the right hand post with a venomous volley, from outside of the box after a corner.
The first goal came in the 43rd minute, when a free kick was expertly delivered by George Cooper, onto the head of the dependable Niall Canavan, to put argyle one up going into half time.
Argyle managed to respond in the second half as they had better ball retention, and were less sloppy in their decision making.
However, a heroic block from Canavan on the line after Maynard had shot beyond Palmer, kept Argyle in the lead.
The Greens used the wake up call to secure the second goal of the game, when a needless push from a Mansfield defender in the box resulted in a penalty, which Antoni Sarcevic confidently slotted away.
Mansfield threatened to make the game into a nervy contest when striker Andy Cook scored an opportunistic volley, which went over Alex Palmer. In truth after that Mansfield struggled to create any chances of note, as Argyle saw out the game.
The Green Army’s nerves were settled when Niall Canavan’s ball sailed over Mansfield defenders heads and was latched onto, by speedy, on loan striker Ryan Hardie who was composed as he scored his second goal in as many games, to seal the win.
This was by no means a typical performance by Argyle. They could have easily have been down and out in the first half, against a Mansfield side, who with the squad at their disposal might think they should be higher up the table, and for the visiting fans an experience that many of the Green Army experienced in the earlier part of the season. The bottom line is strikers have to put away chances.
In coming games Argyle will feel they will have to perform better in coming games if they want to make themselves true automatic promotion contenders.
Man of the Match Alex Palmer
