I thought Crawley were a good side. Quick, physical and not afraid to get it forward. Good game of football for me
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Brief Synopsis!!! (Crawley)
- Thread starter Mark Pedlar
- Start date
An error strewn performance and thankfully we scraped a point. Giving the ball away as often as we did will always expose us to a side who can counter attack which they did and they could easily have scored a few more goals. Ryan Hardie as starter doesnāt quite look the part, his touch and close control are shaky to say the least and we need a forward who can give us better control when it is played forward.
Sloppy, is how id sum that up. There were some positives but overall just not sharp enough. I fear the injuries may have led to some fatigue elsewhere. Our defence horribly exposed tonight and the full backs were too high up to help. Lots to be learnt but we canāt win every game and are still in a good position.
MOTM - Josh Grant. An absolutely monstrous performance at DM. Some huge tackles, moved the ball well.
5 - Sawyer, Wootton, Canavan, Edwards, Palmer
6 - Cooper
7 - Sarcevic, Moore, Bakinson, Hardie.
9 - Josh Grant.
MOTM - Josh Grant. An absolutely monstrous performance at DM. Some huge tackles, moved the ball well.
5 - Sawyer, Wootton, Canavan, Edwards, Palmer
6 - Cooper
7 - Sarcevic, Moore, Bakinson, Hardie.
9 - Josh Grant.
Their second goal was just terrible defending. They had an overload on our left from the free kick and no one bothered to pick their two players up. Ball comes over - no challenge and straight onto the head of Palmer on the six yard box.
Our defence, including (our) Palmer did have a shaky night.
Our defence, including (our) Palmer did have a shaky night.
A few things we learned / reconfirmed tonight:
Sawyer is made of bricks and metal shavings;
Joe Edwards is not a wing back;
we need Byron Moore at wing back;
Jephcott has the striker's instinct;
we're horribly vulnerable to pace;
Sarcevic really cares about the club;
Bakinson is not much cop in a more advanced position;
one or two Argyle players may have eyesight problems under lights .
Sawyer is made of bricks and metal shavings;
Joe Edwards is not a wing back;
we need Byron Moore at wing back;
Jephcott has the striker's instinct;
we're horribly vulnerable to pace;
Sarcevic really cares about the club;
Bakinson is not much cop in a more advanced position;
one or two Argyle players may have eyesight problems under lights .
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Two points dropped but we shouldn't be too disappointed because Crawley were one of the better sides to visit Home Park this season and certainly did their homework on us and any team that has 18 attempts on goal deserves at least something from the game.
Maybe the delayed kick-off affected our game because we were not at our best in a game that finished at 10.10pm, surely the latest finish ever at Home Park.
We were full of mistakes, mainly due to the high press that Crawley put on us, we couldn't cope with their three strikers who pushed high up the pitch throughout the game and especially when we had goalkicks, Palmer couldn't handle this which often led to mistakes.
When we did break clear of this high Crawley press we were away up field with five or more Crawley players stranded out of play.
On a very cold evening the match was delayed because of traffic issues and there was a shock when the team sheets were handed in because playmaker Danny Mayor was missing from the squad.
We started well with Byron Moore and Antoni Sarcevic very prominant and it was Sarcevic who had a great chance but flashed wide his diving header.
Crawley started to get to grips with our play and basically stopped us playing, they harried and hassled our defenders when they received a goal kick from Palmer, they left two strikers up front when defended a corner and we buckled under the pressure.
Palmer became full of anxiety and mistakes, one of these almost led to a goal when a short goal kick was taken when Niall Canavan wasn't looking and only a last ditch tackle from Canavan stopped a certain goal.
Crawley did eventually score when a rebound in the box looked to have touched Palmer on the way into the net as an own goal but it was Ollie Palmer of Crawley who claimed the goal. Palmer didn't score but Palmer did!
Moore had a chance but the ball didn't drop quick enough and his shot was blocked.
Towards half time we played better and Sarcevic won a penalty when he was bundled over in the box. Everyone could see what was coming except the Crawley defender Lubala who pushed Sarcevic.
With minimal fuss Sarcevic netted the penalty and we went into half-time level at 1-1.
The half-time team talk didn't work because we still couldn't cope with the press from Crawley, we still didn't have time on the ball.
Palmer had to make a good save to keep us in the game while at the other end Ryan Hardie was put through clear on goal following a poor back pass but his shot was also like a back pass and went straight into the keepers arms.
Sawyer went down injured with what looked like a broken nose after the ball hit him in the face, after a long delay a stretcher was called but miraculously Sawyer recovered and played on wearing a blood shirt. Conor Grant was stripped and ready to come on, just as he was against Stevenage, but had to sit down again.
Jephcott replaced Edwards with Moore moving to right wing back.
With time running out the ball broke to Moore who put in a great cross to Jephcott who flashed in a near post header to put us 2-1 up.
We couldn't hold onto the lead and much like the game at Crawley we conceded a late equaliser when a free-kick was headed back across goal and there was Palmer to head past Palmer. 2-2.
Credit to Crawley, they were very good and especially their number 9 striker Ollie Palmer, he was a constant menace.
We should have either known about Crawley's tactics before the game or at least at half-time, either way we couldn't cope and didn't change the way we play. Other teams have done the high press against us and we have struggled. Ryan Lowe has said he won't change the way we play but sometimes, like today, we needed something different.
Moore was once again very good, full of movement and versatility.
Hardie was a disappointment, he looks to be a runner rather than a link up striker so it was left to Moore to link up play, maybe Hardie is better from the bench?
Bakinson had a really poor first half, he improved in the second half but it looks like his new position doesn't suit him.
Josh Grant was just superb, giving great cover and is comfortable on the ball.
Sarcevic had another good game and drove the team forward.
Palmer was hit and miss - good with his hands when making saves but poor with his feet and his edgy and nervous play fed to the defenders, especially Wootton who made a number of mistakes.
We missed the ball carrying skills of Mayor who might have made the difference.
We have returned to the early season problem of conceding headed goals from crosses - Stevenage and now Crawley.
A very entertaining and open game.
It's a point on the board and the unbeaten run continues so credit to the players for not losing a very difficult game.
Man of the match - Josh Grant.
Palmer 5, Wootton 5, Canavan 5, Sawyer 6, Josh Grant 8, Edwards 6, Sarcevic 7, Bakinson 6, Cooper 6, Hardie 5, Moore 7. Subs - Jephcott 7, Conor Grant n/a, Josh Grant n/a.
Maybe the delayed kick-off affected our game because we were not at our best in a game that finished at 10.10pm, surely the latest finish ever at Home Park.
We were full of mistakes, mainly due to the high press that Crawley put on us, we couldn't cope with their three strikers who pushed high up the pitch throughout the game and especially when we had goalkicks, Palmer couldn't handle this which often led to mistakes.
When we did break clear of this high Crawley press we were away up field with five or more Crawley players stranded out of play.
On a very cold evening the match was delayed because of traffic issues and there was a shock when the team sheets were handed in because playmaker Danny Mayor was missing from the squad.
We started well with Byron Moore and Antoni Sarcevic very prominant and it was Sarcevic who had a great chance but flashed wide his diving header.
Crawley started to get to grips with our play and basically stopped us playing, they harried and hassled our defenders when they received a goal kick from Palmer, they left two strikers up front when defended a corner and we buckled under the pressure.
Palmer became full of anxiety and mistakes, one of these almost led to a goal when a short goal kick was taken when Niall Canavan wasn't looking and only a last ditch tackle from Canavan stopped a certain goal.
Crawley did eventually score when a rebound in the box looked to have touched Palmer on the way into the net as an own goal but it was Ollie Palmer of Crawley who claimed the goal. Palmer didn't score but Palmer did!
Moore had a chance but the ball didn't drop quick enough and his shot was blocked.
Towards half time we played better and Sarcevic won a penalty when he was bundled over in the box. Everyone could see what was coming except the Crawley defender Lubala who pushed Sarcevic.
With minimal fuss Sarcevic netted the penalty and we went into half-time level at 1-1.
The half-time team talk didn't work because we still couldn't cope with the press from Crawley, we still didn't have time on the ball.
Palmer had to make a good save to keep us in the game while at the other end Ryan Hardie was put through clear on goal following a poor back pass but his shot was also like a back pass and went straight into the keepers arms.
Sawyer went down injured with what looked like a broken nose after the ball hit him in the face, after a long delay a stretcher was called but miraculously Sawyer recovered and played on wearing a blood shirt. Conor Grant was stripped and ready to come on, just as he was against Stevenage, but had to sit down again.
Jephcott replaced Edwards with Moore moving to right wing back.
With time running out the ball broke to Moore who put in a great cross to Jephcott who flashed in a near post header to put us 2-1 up.
We couldn't hold onto the lead and much like the game at Crawley we conceded a late equaliser when a free-kick was headed back across goal and there was Palmer to head past Palmer. 2-2.
Credit to Crawley, they were very good and especially their number 9 striker Ollie Palmer, he was a constant menace.
We should have either known about Crawley's tactics before the game or at least at half-time, either way we couldn't cope and didn't change the way we play. Other teams have done the high press against us and we have struggled. Ryan Lowe has said he won't change the way we play but sometimes, like today, we needed something different.
Moore was once again very good, full of movement and versatility.
Hardie was a disappointment, he looks to be a runner rather than a link up striker so it was left to Moore to link up play, maybe Hardie is better from the bench?
Bakinson had a really poor first half, he improved in the second half but it looks like his new position doesn't suit him.
Josh Grant was just superb, giving great cover and is comfortable on the ball.
Sarcevic had another good game and drove the team forward.
Palmer was hit and miss - good with his hands when making saves but poor with his feet and his edgy and nervous play fed to the defenders, especially Wootton who made a number of mistakes.
We missed the ball carrying skills of Mayor who might have made the difference.
We have returned to the early season problem of conceding headed goals from crosses - Stevenage and now Crawley.
A very entertaining and open game.
It's a point on the board and the unbeaten run continues so credit to the players for not losing a very difficult game.
Man of the match - Josh Grant.
Palmer 5, Wootton 5, Canavan 5, Sawyer 6, Josh Grant 8, Edwards 6, Sarcevic 7, Bakinson 6, Cooper 6, Hardie 5, Moore 7. Subs - Jephcott 7, Conor Grant n/a, Josh Grant n/a.
JannerinCardiff
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Monster Green":2ogjyeu0 said:
The stats suggest there were nearly 40 shots from both teams tonight.
B
Bonehead
Guest
Letās face it . Danny Mayor is homesick , end of . It does take 2 hours to fly from Exeter to Manchester. Bless him:
Four games on the trot where a substitute has scored for us. I reckon its unlikely that has happened before. :scarf:
Crawley had a plan and stuck to it and it very nearly workd for them, even when at long last Argyle got on top (slightly) at 2-1 you could see Crawley thought they could still get something out of it and brought players on to reinforce their tactics, not pretty but effective, Argyle not on song tonight
Nowards and upwards!! :scarf:
Nowards and upwards!! :scarf:
plymouth1970":2i2w2gsh said:
1 hr actually , and from what ive heard tonight he won't have to fly from Exeter after Friday. I hope the rumours are wrong because we obviously missed him tonight but a hard earned point from a competitive game and we go again on Saturday.
plymouth1970":1g3fvifk said:
Whereās your evidence. He recently said how settled he was down here.
We were somewhat fortunate to win our last home game but we didnāt get away with it tonight.
Over the 90 minutes, a pretty average Crawley side deserved to get at least a point and they might have got more with better finishing. We were poor in terms of our passing and ball retention and a better side would have taken advantage of the numerous times we gave the ball away to enable them mount speedy counter attacks.
Wooton and Canavan were back to their dodgy and unconvincing worst from last season and Crawley were constantly getting in behind Cooper in the first half, which is where their first goal came from. In midfield, we lacked skill and composure on the ball and didnāt create very much against an organised defence.
For anyone who thinks we donāt need Mayor, tonight was a wake up call and hopefully, it is the case that he was injured and will be back on Saturday.
Bakinson was outstanding in his first three games playing the deep-lying midfield role, making strong runs across the halfway line. However, to accommodate Josh Grant, he has been pushed further forward and he is not the same player. He had a poor game on Saturday and he was pretty ineffective again tonight. He looks uncomfortable receiving the ball so far up the pitch and is not quite sure what to do with it, causing a number of promising situations to break down and set up the counter attack for Crawley.
If Lowe wants Josh Grant in the starting eleven the obvious position is at RCB in place of the hapless Wooton.
This was a missed opportunity to make the most of Swindon and Exeter losing, I doubt we will get such an opportunity again on Saturday.
Over the 90 minutes, a pretty average Crawley side deserved to get at least a point and they might have got more with better finishing. We were poor in terms of our passing and ball retention and a better side would have taken advantage of the numerous times we gave the ball away to enable them mount speedy counter attacks.
Wooton and Canavan were back to their dodgy and unconvincing worst from last season and Crawley were constantly getting in behind Cooper in the first half, which is where their first goal came from. In midfield, we lacked skill and composure on the ball and didnāt create very much against an organised defence.
For anyone who thinks we donāt need Mayor, tonight was a wake up call and hopefully, it is the case that he was injured and will be back on Saturday.
Bakinson was outstanding in his first three games playing the deep-lying midfield role, making strong runs across the halfway line. However, to accommodate Josh Grant, he has been pushed further forward and he is not the same player. He had a poor game on Saturday and he was pretty ineffective again tonight. He looks uncomfortable receiving the ball so far up the pitch and is not quite sure what to do with it, causing a number of promising situations to break down and set up the counter attack for Crawley.
If Lowe wants Josh Grant in the starting eleven the obvious position is at RCB in place of the hapless Wooton.
This was a missed opportunity to make the most of Swindon and Exeter losing, I doubt we will get such an opportunity again on Saturday.