I thought we played well overall, but didnt put the game to bed when leading twice. With our opponents throwing more
and more bodies forward in their attempts to equalise, we had ample opportunities to close the game out.
Though the missing GC10 might have made the difference today tbf. Get well soon graham.
So although it was very disappointing to concede the late equaliser, twas not totally surprising. As Cockos well
organised gasheads kept up the pressure on us and in the end deservedly earnt their point.
Argyle kicked off with the 31411 making another appearance, possibly to match gasheads diamond 4132, or maybe to reunify the
previously key CM trio of foxy, nessie and sarce once again. Nessie being GC10s replacement in the line up.
Whatever, it worked as we dominated most of the first period with the CM triplets controlling the game.
Helped also by the team pressing high and wide. Ruben(MOM) was then able to find the space and time to link and
threaten them constantly but unfortunately the goal our approach play deserved never materialised. Mainly due to some
really strong defending from rovers. Cockos influence no doubt.
Rovers main threat was from set pieces and early diagonal crosses. Which we dealt with ok apart from one late effort
which was blocked by keeper matt.
Second half and the game continued in the same manner with ruben soon curling home a wonderful goal cutting in from
the right. A brilliant effort worthy of winning any game. Argyle are now forced back into a more counter attacking style as
rovers respond to the goal.
This was the period when we needed another goal but our counters were not clinical enough despite rubens non stop efforts in
single handedly orchestrating most of them.
Too many bad decisions/errors when in good attacking positions not only limited our efforts on goal but also resulted
in turnovers that rovers countered us with. From one of these a rovers striker fired home, what looked from distance, a
brilliant long range goal. Keeper matt seemingly just watched it go past. Too far away to see if he could have saved it
or if the effort could have been blocked in any way. It all looked far too easy, though still a brilliant strike.
Obviously this gave them bags of confidence and now the game became much more end to end.
Argyle then benefitted from an oggie of epic wierdness as a gashead managed to bonk a cross in from an unbelievable angle.
No threat, no danger, ball going out and then poor old tony craig heads it back sideways, against the bar and then down
over the line. Well spotted by the lino and of course thousands of delighted greenies. Sympathy for poor tony....nah!
And I thought englands fifth against the czech rep friday night was wierd. This was way more wierder than that.
Anyways, with their noses back in front argyle have more opportunities to put the game to bed but fail miserably again
to exploit them. Leaving themselves open to the inevitable late sucker punch which duly arrived when a low driven
cross seemingly went over players and then straight through keeper matt with no noticeable deflection i could see. It looked
like he was beaten more by the pace of it than anything else as he dived all around it. Need to see it again though as a
long way away. So 2-2 it ended and a fair result in the end imho.
I thought second half we defended too narrow at times allowing far too many uncontested crosses. The foxy and joe riley
substitutions also unsettling the team to an extent.
Individually keeper matt was excellent first half especially with his kicking. Second half under more pressure his kicking
started to lapse and 2 softish goals conceded as well. Joe riley and skipper gaz as WBS both had good games as did
eddy, yanner and niall at CB. Foxy had another excellent game. Such a classy consistent player. So gonna miss him when hes gone.
Nessie did well and played the full 90 which should improve his game further. Sarce had another disappointing game. Way off his
best at the mo but still gave everything as always.
Fred was a bit isolated at times but did well when involved.
The 2WB/3CB system worked well at times today especially first half, with the 3 CM ball winners in there, but in the second
45 we also lost our way with it too. So 4231 is still the way to go for me at the mo especially if you gotta fit GC10 in there
somewhere as well.
A disappointing ending to the game today for sure but never mind its still another crucial point.
Hopefully, not too many more required now.