1) Whoah that must be the lowest crowd for a long time. Perhaps a win would kick a decent crowd in for Saturday? So much for that theory. Bet that season ticket holders get included in the attendance. Young in for the suspended Hourihane, Feeney and Madjo for both the Griffiths boys. 4-4-2 - at least on paper. Bhas to left-back - first time start there since the poor start at Oxford away. Nelson partnered Blanchard at the back. Cole restored. Gurrieri at left-wing, Macca in on the right for Lennox.
2) Bhasera and Blanchard early confusion allowed Burton some possession but eventually went out for a goal-kick. Argyle broke but couldn't get a shot away. Good work by Berry put a good ball across but no-one could latch on to it. Feeney was brought down on the edge of the box but the free-kick was wasted. Madjo won another one when his opponent handled - again wasted.
3) Dreadful period of play from 10 to 40. Both sides losing possession too easily. Argyle trying to be creative and not managing it. Burton lumping it forward to little effect. Occasionally one team might get it as far as the area but generally very moves involving 4 or more passes were developed. With half-an-hour gone Macca gave way to PCH possibly injured in a 50/50 challenge early in the half although it could easily have been tactical - he was poor.
4) Bhasera went close with a shot from a ball that broke from a corner and then Lowry (?) with a shot cleared off the line as Argyle began to look a little bit the stronger team. Burton, strong in the tackle, gave away a number of free-kicks, most of them wasted. On the stroke of half-time Blanchard was forced into a sliding tackle, he was down for a long time holding his knee. He limped off but came back almost immediately. Argyle broke, PCH won a corner, the lino gave it and then the ref over-ruled him.
5) The second-half started in the same dull way then Feeney collected a ball brilliantly before playing in PCH. He dragged the ball back and finished just inside the 'keeper's left-hand upright. With Burton stunned, Berry robbed their left midfielder and forced a corner. Blanchard's header was blocked on the line then Young's follow-up shot was kicked away. Moments later PCH was hacked down. Burton scrambled the ball away.
6) Burton changed from 4-4-1-1 to 4-4-2 as they tried to get a goal back and suddenly Argyle began to look far better. Nelson had a free header from a corner but got under it and it went well over. Although Argyle had the bulk of possession you never really felt it was safe and occasional shots flew in from Burton. Good work by the midfield set Bhasera free, his cross found Gurrieri via Madjo's chest and his well struck shot could only be parried by the 'keeper.
7) Same old Argyle - with 20 to go we dropped deeper and deeper and we began giving the ball away far too cheaply. From strolling around we suddenly looked nervous again and Burton gained more and more of the ball. Eventually we gave away a soft corner. No-one defended the deep corner, it was headed back across, Cole appeared to be fouled but it was bundled home to possibly the smallest cheer for a goal ever at Home Park.
8 ) Burton were now on top and changes were needed - Fletch froze. Then the ball flashed from left to right the defence were all over the place. Cole flapped at a shot and pushed it out to be passed back past him for Burton's second. Fletcher's reaction was the adventurous one of Rhys Griffiths for Madjo - why not keep him on and take off a defender?? Burton fouling all game then time wasting when leading. Lennox replaced Lowry but by then I'd given up hope.
9) Ref and his linesmen had a reasonable first-half. One yellow card for a late foul on Gurrieri. He punished the fouls but Argyle should have made more of the free-kicks. With no-sign of the fouls easing up eventually the ref started giving yellows. Burton successfully bullied us. Berry and Feeney had reasonable games. PCH and Gurrieri worked hard. Nelson was fine up to the goals. Bhasera was poor at left-back.
10) "our ground's too big for us". Shocking turn-out by both sets of fans. Mind you if I'd watched us on TV I wouldn't have turned up either. No Forza Verde - a protest about mid-week events?! Nah. Crowd was flat and quiet for long periods. Another woeful performance with a 10 minute purple patch. The crowd drifted away, knowing there was no way back.
11) Another defeat beckons on Saturday and so we drift on, ever downwards. Brent's at fault now - he's the one letting this carry on. It's no longer Fletcher's fault - he's doing his best - he's just not very good.
2) Bhasera and Blanchard early confusion allowed Burton some possession but eventually went out for a goal-kick. Argyle broke but couldn't get a shot away. Good work by Berry put a good ball across but no-one could latch on to it. Feeney was brought down on the edge of the box but the free-kick was wasted. Madjo won another one when his opponent handled - again wasted.
3) Dreadful period of play from 10 to 40. Both sides losing possession too easily. Argyle trying to be creative and not managing it. Burton lumping it forward to little effect. Occasionally one team might get it as far as the area but generally very moves involving 4 or more passes were developed. With half-an-hour gone Macca gave way to PCH possibly injured in a 50/50 challenge early in the half although it could easily have been tactical - he was poor.
4) Bhasera went close with a shot from a ball that broke from a corner and then Lowry (?) with a shot cleared off the line as Argyle began to look a little bit the stronger team. Burton, strong in the tackle, gave away a number of free-kicks, most of them wasted. On the stroke of half-time Blanchard was forced into a sliding tackle, he was down for a long time holding his knee. He limped off but came back almost immediately. Argyle broke, PCH won a corner, the lino gave it and then the ref over-ruled him.
5) The second-half started in the same dull way then Feeney collected a ball brilliantly before playing in PCH. He dragged the ball back and finished just inside the 'keeper's left-hand upright. With Burton stunned, Berry robbed their left midfielder and forced a corner. Blanchard's header was blocked on the line then Young's follow-up shot was kicked away. Moments later PCH was hacked down. Burton scrambled the ball away.
6) Burton changed from 4-4-1-1 to 4-4-2 as they tried to get a goal back and suddenly Argyle began to look far better. Nelson had a free header from a corner but got under it and it went well over. Although Argyle had the bulk of possession you never really felt it was safe and occasional shots flew in from Burton. Good work by the midfield set Bhasera free, his cross found Gurrieri via Madjo's chest and his well struck shot could only be parried by the 'keeper.
7) Same old Argyle - with 20 to go we dropped deeper and deeper and we began giving the ball away far too cheaply. From strolling around we suddenly looked nervous again and Burton gained more and more of the ball. Eventually we gave away a soft corner. No-one defended the deep corner, it was headed back across, Cole appeared to be fouled but it was bundled home to possibly the smallest cheer for a goal ever at Home Park.
8 ) Burton were now on top and changes were needed - Fletch froze. Then the ball flashed from left to right the defence were all over the place. Cole flapped at a shot and pushed it out to be passed back past him for Burton's second. Fletcher's reaction was the adventurous one of Rhys Griffiths for Madjo - why not keep him on and take off a defender?? Burton fouling all game then time wasting when leading. Lennox replaced Lowry but by then I'd given up hope.
9) Ref and his linesmen had a reasonable first-half. One yellow card for a late foul on Gurrieri. He punished the fouls but Argyle should have made more of the free-kicks. With no-sign of the fouls easing up eventually the ref started giving yellows. Burton successfully bullied us. Berry and Feeney had reasonable games. PCH and Gurrieri worked hard. Nelson was fine up to the goals. Bhasera was poor at left-back.
10) "our ground's too big for us". Shocking turn-out by both sets of fans. Mind you if I'd watched us on TV I wouldn't have turned up either. No Forza Verde - a protest about mid-week events?! Nah. Crowd was flat and quiet for long periods. Another woeful performance with a 10 minute purple patch. The crowd drifted away, knowing there was no way back.
11) Another defeat beckons on Saturday and so we drift on, ever downwards. Brent's at fault now - he's the one letting this carry on. It's no longer Fletcher's fault - he's doing his best - he's just not very good.
