A Round-up of Argyle News
Argyle News Sites: Greens on Screen's Daily Diary is a compilation of Argyle news, with help from these and other Argyle-related sites. On This Day: Also included on the three most recent days, facts from Argyle's history. |
Thursday 28th March 2024 Argyle and Argyle Community Trust have been selected as finalists for three awards at the 2024 Football Business Awards. The marketing and communications team has been nominated for the 'Best Club Marketing Campaign' award for this season's home shirt campaign which saw record-breaking sales and media coverage. Argyle Community Trust has received nominations for Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Scheme, with Project 35, the award-winning social action initiative aimed at reducing poverty in Devon and Cornwall in partnership with Ginsters, recognised as one of sport's leading CSR programmes. The second nomination is in the Best Football Community Scheme category, where the Trust has been chosen as a finalist for their clear commitment to the local community, its people and business. The awards take place on Friday, 24 May at The Brewery in London. On This Day: 1992: Steve McCall made his Argyle debut in a 1-0 defeat at Port Vale. Steve went on to play 165 games and score 6 goals in two spells between 1992 and 2000. He was appointed manager in 1995 to bridge the gap between Peter Shilton and Neil Warnock, and was Kevin Hodges' number two between 1998 and 2000. 1996: Carlo Corazzin signed from Cambridge United for £150K. In the following two years he scored 24 goals in 81 appearances for the club. 2020: With the COVID-19 pandemic gripping the country, Argyle decided to access government support to furlough a proportion of its workforce, including playing staff. 27th On-loan midfielder, Darko Gyabi, has returned to his parent club, Leeds, after suffering a groin strain during training. He will now miss the rest of the season at Home Park while he is treated for the injury at Elland Road. Argyle defender, Brendan Galloway, was a 63rd minute substitute for Zimbabwe in a 3-1 defeat to Kenya in the final of a four-nation African tournament. Striker, Ben Waine, also came off the bench for New Zealand in the 81st minute of a 0-0 draw with Tunisia at the Cairo International Stadium in Egypt in a third and fourth place play-off at the ACUD International Cup. Plans have been approved for the multi-million-pound transformation of Brickfields into a sporting centre of excellence and asset for the wider Plymouth community. The City Council has given the green light to the scheme brought forward by a partnership between Plymouth Argyle, Argyle Community Trust, Plymouth City Council, Plymouth Albion RFC, and Devonport Community Leisure Limited (DCLL). The milestone means legal agreements can be formalised, the remaining funding secured and the proposals to deliver an exciting range of community and sport facilities on the underused site in Devonport can now progress. At the core of the proposals is a new permanent home for Plymouth Argyle's youth wing, the Argyle Academy, and Plymouth Argyle Women. Extensive community and sport facilities will include new grass and all-weather 3G pitches, athletics facilities for the City of Plymouth Athletics Club and other users, play zones exclusively for public use, better public access, landscaped public areas, and parking. Brickfields is also currently home to the DHaN Food Bank which supports over 300 local families each week and will be retained. On This Day: 1954: Less than a week after Argyle's four goals against FA Cup holders Blackpool, a 4-1 win against Derby County at the Baseball Ground, and a hat-trick for Neil Langman after just five weeks in League football. 26th Argyle sponsors, Seco Support, have won the 'Supported Living Team Award' at the National Finals of the Great British Care Awards for dedicated work in their communities. Seco Support was co-founded in 2018 by former Argyle player, Marcel Seip, and his friend, Simon Cook. Seco are specialists in 24/7 complex supported living services for people with learning disabilities and/or autism who present with behaviours of concern. On This Day: 1988: Argyle 3 Blackburn 0; making his debut for Blackburn, Argentinian World Cup star Osvaldo Ardiles. Ossie lasted just 50 minutes after 'close attention' from Nicky Marker. 2002: A golden night, Argyle secured promotion to tier 3; Rochdale 1 Argyle 3 (... more on GoS, then the Rochdale link). 2020: With football suspended, Plymouth Argyle announced that it had teamed up with the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust to make Home Park Stadium available for routine NHS services during the COVID-19 response period. The redeveloped grandstand and dressing rooms would be used for the NHS's community antenatal and phlebotomy services. 25th Argyle Academy has appointed Niall Cully as its Under-13s lead coach. Dubliner, Niall, will also assist Under-18s' manager, Jamie Lowry. Argyle Women's Under-16s' goalkeeper, Freya Weeks, is with the England Under-15s' schoolgirls squad for their round of fixtures against Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. 23rd Argyle's Under-18s fell to late defeat against Leyton Orient in Merit League One on Saturday morning. Cole Gibbings scored the Pilgrims' only goal of the game, a flicked header from a Tegan Finn set-piece. This equalised a Devine Samuel goal, but the same player popped up late on to score the match's decisive goal which knocked the wind out of Argyle's sails. This was the young Pilgrims first defeat in the league. 22nd Argyle 'keeper, Conor Hazard, played the first half of Northern Ireland's 1-1 draw with Romania in a friendly in Bucharest. Northern Ireland scored in seven minutes, with the equaliser coming on 23 minutes. Hazard was substituted at half time, having picked up a yellow card on 44 minutes. Alfie Devine, on loan to Argyle from Spurs, was a 78th minute substitute for the England Under-20s in a 5-1 Euro Elite League win against Poland in Bialystock. And striker, Ben Waine, was a 65th minute substitute as New Zealand lost 1-0 to Egypt in Cairo as part of a four-team tournament. 21st Plymouth Parkway played their Southern League Premier Division South fixture with Winchester City at Home Park. Argyle offered Parkway the use of the stadium as the international break meant there were no EFL games there for 16 days. The match, which kicked off at 7.45 pm, ended in a 1-1 draw. Argyle loanee, Lino Sousa, played the whole of the England Under-19s' match against Morocco in Rabat. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. 17th Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster, blamed two incidents in the game against Preston North End for his side's one-nil defeat at Home Park. Argyle failed to deal with a cross from the Preston left flank, which eventually found its way to substitute Liam Millar, who slammed it in for the only goal of the game. There were shouts for a penalty in the second half after Ryan Hardie went down in the box, but the referee waved play on. "Their goal, we're disappointed with in terms of the manner of how we defended it," said Foster. "Then, the 'penalty' at the other end; it's a clear foul on Ryan Hardie. The referee's right there and decided not to give it, which is a blow to us. "We're desperately trying to pick up points in this division; today was an opportunity for us to do that. It's a game, possession-wise, that we've dominated, but unfortunately for us, we just haven't created the chances that would have put us in a position to get points from the game. "That's my responsibility to do that. The players are trying; they're working hard, they fought to the final whistle, and will continue to do that. I'm sure if we do, we'll continue to pick up points." Nonetheless, the result left many fans very disgruntled at the style of play with calls for Foster to be sacked coming from certain parts of the ground. There are now two weeks for the international break before Argyle travel to Norwich - a side they beat 6-2 at Home Park - for the Good Friday game. Argyle Women made a sensational comeback to earn a superb point against second-placed Hashtag United in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division. Two goals from Ellie Sara were enough to seal the draw. "I thought we were superb today and got what we deserved from the game," said manager Ryan Perks. "Fifty-five seconds into the game, we've had a howler and conceded, but the girls have shown great character to get us back into the game. We almost nicked it at the end as well... In the end, we've worked hard and improved on last week's performance which has helped us get another point on the board." Argyle now only need one win - or for eleventh-placed Chatham Town to lose - to confirm their safety in the league. 16th Argyle fell short of delivering a much-needed three points on the annual Armed Services Day at Home Park, as Ryan Lowe's Preston North End snatched a narrow, 1-0 win. The first period was a disjointed affair with the former Argyle manager forced to shuffle his pack with two early substitutions, and one of those replacements, Liam Millar, grabbed the only goal two minutes before the break. The Pilgrims battled gamely after the interval but were unable to find the answer to the Preston problem and will use the international break to regroup ahead of the final push of a long season. Argyle: Cooper, Houghton, Pleguezuelo (Devine), Edwards, Hardie, Whittaker, Miller (Sousa), Bundu, Gibson, Randell (Waine), Phillips. Substitutes (not used): Hazard, Scarr, Wright, Galloway, Roberts, Issaka. 15th Seven of Argyle's current squad have been called up for international duties in next weekend's 'break'. Striker Ben Waine can add to his 11 caps for the New Zealand All Whites in a four-team competition known as the W Cup, which will take place in Dubai. New Zealand will play Egypt on Friday 22 March, and Croatia or Tunisia on Tuesday, 26 March, depending on results. Brendan Galloway is also heading to a four-team competition. His Zimbabwe squad are off to Malawi for a tournament that also includes the host country, Kenya and Zambia. Goalkeeper, Conor Hazard, is included in Northern Ireland's squad that will play friendlies on Friday 22 and Tuesday 26, against Romania and Scotland respectively. Spurs' loanees, Ashley Phillips and Alfie Devine, are both included in the England Elite League Squad (formerly England Under-20s). The Young Lions meet Poland in Bialystok on Friday 22 March, and Czechia in Ostrava on Tuesday, 26 March. Lino Sousa will be part of the England Under-19s who travel to Morocco to play two games in Rabat. England will meet Morocco on Sunday, 21 March, and USA on Sunday, 24 March. Freddie Issaka has again been called into the Wales Under-19s squad. The Dragons will play Belgium in two away games--on Friday, 22 March and Monday, 25 March. 14th David Tivey has joined Argyle as Physical Performance Coach, initially until the end of the season on a consultancy basis. He is known to Neil Dewsnip and Ian Foster from their periods at the FA where he worked as National Team Performance Coach under Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce and Gareth Southgate. David also spent time at Swansea City and Nottingham Forest under Steve Cooper, working closely with Cooper at Forest as they clinched promotion to the Premier League. 10th Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster, pronounced himself conflicted after yesterday's draw with Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. He was clearly disappointed not seal the victory their dominance deserved, but he was naturally pleased with the way his players went about things, especially after the team's performance against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, and his reaction to it. Argyle had made five changes with starts for Mustapha Bundu and Bali Mumba and, most notably, the return of Michael Cooper in goal on the turf where he made his substitute debut in October 2017. Although chances missed were probably the story of the day, the Championship's two top goalscorers both added to their tally with Rovers' Sammie Szmodics scoring his 21st league goal of the season after just seven minutes. Blackburn has defender Kyle McFadzean sent off after 54 minutes for a tackle on last man Ryan Hardie but, by the time Morgan Whittaker scored his 19th of the season on 74 minutes, Argyle had had countless opportunities to level. They continued to push for the winner but could not find the net again, despite their efforts. "Even before their goal, I thought we were the team on top," said Foster. "We've created chance after chance, and we've done it playing the right way. Some wonderful football from the from the players today shows they're not lacking in confidence. It shows what they're capable of. "I can't complain. The players were absolutely outstanding. We asked them to play a certain way. We asked them to be brave in possession, as we always do, and they were terrific. They connected the game really well. They've caused the opposition countless problems, and we should have had more than one goal. "We've got to take a lot of positives from the game today. The players have obviously come in disappointed, because we felt it was a game we ought to have won, but it's a point in the right direction, and it's a performance the players can really build on." Again, Argyle were buoyed up by the magnificent travelling Green Army of nearly 1,500. "I'm sure the fans are really proud of the players today," said Foster. "They've given them lots to scream and shout about today; we've lacked that of late. "The players want the fans to get behind them, and we have to give them something. We've given plenty today, and the fans were outstanding - we thank them for that. We're just disappointed that they're going back with a point and not three." A dramatic, late, injury-time goal saw Argyle Women fall to defeat away to Cardiff City. The home side led through a first-half goal and retained their advantage until the closing stages when Ellie Sara levelled for the Greens just after the 90 minutes had elapsed. It seemed the late equaliser had earned a point for the Pilgrims, but a 95th minute shot found its way into the Argyle net, resulting in heartbreak for Ryan Perks' team. "We're incredibly frustrated with that result," said Perks following his side's late defeat. "We've worked hard to come back into the game, did so through a great finish from Ellie and you think you're going to come away with a point. Cardiff have then got a chance through a lapse of concentration from us and with a bit of luck have found the back of the net through a bobble that's took the ball over Lily. It's a sucker punch. "Today, we weren't on it. We get drawn into a scrap every time we play Cardiff and they're better at that side of the game than us. We're a young side that lack that physical presence but that will come with age and experience." 9th Every point is precious at this stage of the season and Argyle thoroughly deserved something from their trip to Blackburn. The Greens fell behind early to a Sammie Szmodics strike but then created a number of decent opportunities in the first period. A red card for home defender Kyle McFadzean changed the complexion early in the second half and the Pilgrims finally got their reward, Morgan Whittaker scoring on the rebound for a 1-1 draw. Argyle: Cooper, Mumba (Sorinola), Houghton (Randell), Pleguezuelo (Devine), Hardie, Whittaker, Miller, Bundu (Gyabi), Gibson, Phillips (Galloway), Forshaw. Substitutes (not used): Hazard, Sousa, Edwards, Waine. 7th Argyle have appointed Simon Ireland as first-team coach, initially until the end of the season. He becomes the second backroom signing since Ian Foster joined the club in January. Barnstaple-born Simon has previously worked at Huddersfield, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, QPR and Sheffield Wednesday. Argyle's away fixture with Rotherham United has been selected for broadcast on Sky TV. This crucial match will now kick off on Friday 5 April at 8pm. 5th Argyle fell by a single goal at Hillsborough on Tuesday night, with Djeidi Gassama's strike for Sheffield Wednesday on the hour the difference between the two teams. It was a game of precious few chances. In the end Gassama, latching on to a right-wing cross from Ike Ogbo, pounced, and forced the ball over the line. The Greens tried in vain after the goal to find an equaliser, having their best spell of the game towards the closing stages, but Wednesday fell back, protected their box, and saw the game out. Argyle: Hazard, Edwards (Mumba), Hardie, Whittaker, Miller, Gibson, Gyabi (Bundu), Randell, Galloway, Phillips, Forshaw (Houghton). Substitutes (not used): Cooper, Sousa, Pleguezuelo, Devine, Waine, Sorinola. Argyle's Under-18s drew their opening Merit League One fixture against Cheltenham Town on Tuesday afternoon, sharing six goals. Freddie Issaka bagged a brace, scoring each side of half-time, bringing his total to 15 for the season across all competitions. Argyle's other goal was scored by Henry Donovan, with the forward hitting the back of the net for the first time this campaign. Argyle went two up before Cheltenham, in the shape of Sopuruchukwu Obieri struck twice - the second from the penalty spot before the break. In the second half, Obieri completed his hat trick before Issaka scored his second individual goal. Both sides had the chance to win the game but it ended with the points shared. 3rd "We're disappointed to lose the game; of course we are," said Argyle Head Coach Ian Foster after the defeat against Ipswich Town. "We don't like losing games of football, particularly at Home Park." For 45 minutes, Argyle matched their opponents but an unfortunate deflection off Brendan Galloway on 63 minutes turned the game with the visitors scoring their second less than 10 minutes later. "We're desperately disappointed in the manner of the first goal. There's nothing in the game up until that point. We nullified their threats really, really well. "We perhaps didn't react and respond the way we wanted to, and we probably hadn't caused them the problems that we wanted to. "I just want to see a little bit of a bounce from us, though, on the back of that goal, and unfortunately we didn't get it. "The disappointing thing for us, again, is we've conceded from a set play, so that's poor on our behalf. We have to be better in those moments. "We came in on the back of a wonderful performance up at Middlesborough, where we had 17 shots I think in the first half. We just couldn't replicate that today." Ipswich did the double over Argyle this weekend when Argyle Women fell to defeat by their East Anglian visitors at Coach Road. The Greens responded quickly to an early Town goal but the Tractor Girls scored again before half time and consolidated their lead 12 minutes into the second period. "Overall, I'm really happy with how we played today," said Manager, Ryan Perks following his side's narrow defeat. "In possession, and out of possession, I thought we were superb. Our performance levels across the 90 minutes were equally just as good. We've had three or four really good chances and responded incredibly well to their first goal but like our matches against Portsmouth and Hashtag, we've come away with nothing in a match that if I'm honest I feel like we should've had something from. "If you compare today to the previous result against Ipswich, we lost 7-1 in a game that we could've conceded more. Whereas today we've caused them issues and shown how much we've developed as a side in a match that is probably the best we've ever played against one of the best teams in this league." 2nd Two scruffy second-half goals condemned Argyle to a frustrating 2-0 defeat at home to promotion-chasing Ipswich Town. The game was bereft of clear chances in the first hour of play but turned in favour of the visitors when a hopeful effort from Conor Chaplin took a massive deflection off Brendan Galloway to break the deadlock. The Pilgrims were then hit by a decisive second from Ipswich, Kieffer Moore drilling a volley into the corner after the ball had bounced around the penalty box. Argyle: Hazard, Houghton (Forshaw), Pleguezuelo, Hardie, Whittaker, Miller, Gibson, Gyabi (Bundu), Randell (Devine), Galloway (Phillips), Sorinola (Edwards). Substitutes (not used): Coope, Mumba, Sousa, Waine. Argyle have done their bit for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, in partnership with men's cancer charity, the Chestnut Appeal. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men with more than 52,000 diagnoses and 12,000 deaths from the disease every year. A simple blood test measures the level of PSA--a potential marker for and early detector of prostate cancer. Before the game against Ipswich, the Club, hosted a free clinic at the Life Centre. It proved a resounding success as all 300 places were fully booked. Former Argyle player, David Norris, working with Sky Bet and the Club, handed out vouchers for 1,330 free pasties and other snacks to fans at Home Park before the game against another of his former Clubs as a thank you for fans' generosity in crowdfunding £6,000 for him. Norris, who played for Argyle between 2002 and 2008, recently fell into unexpected financial difficulties which left him on the verge of being forced to auction off his 2003-04 League One winners medal. After seeing the former midfielder's post on social media, the football community, led by Pilgrims fans, quickly came to the rescue via crowdfunding platform JustGiving. Sky Bet will help deliver the reward scheme as part of its new #ForTheFans campaign, which aims to champion the modern football fan and fan culture while making their matchday experience better. David Norris said: "After being faced with what is a really difficult situation in my personal life, the response I have had from Plymouth and Ipswich fans along with the wider football community has been incredible. The generosity and kindness they have shown has been overwhelming and I am really pleased to be able to show my appreciation for them this weekend and help give back to them with help from Sky Bet." 1st Darko Gyabi has won the Argyle player of the month award for February. The loanee from Leeds has impressed, in particular in the Greens' success against Middlesbrough last Saturday. 25th February Argyle's Head Coach Ian Foster was naturally delighted with the Greens 2-0 victory against Middlesbrough at the Riverside - only their second away win of the season. A first goal for Matty Sorinola and a solo effort from Ryan Hardie - both created by Darko Gyabi - reflected a dominant first half from the Pilgrims. The win came off the back of two goalless consecutive home defeats. The contrast was stark, with Argyle not only winning and controlling the game, but creating numerous chances, especially in the first 45 minutes. "I thought we were excellent," Foster said. "I thought it was a perfect away performance. My only criticism of the players at half-time was that we weren't ruthless enough. "We created umpteen chances in the first half; I don't think [Middlesbrough] had a shot on target. We're really pleased. It shows the players and everybody else what we're capable of. "I was quite critical at half-time for not finishing them off, really. I thought we could have put the game to bed in the first 45 minutes. We were that good. "The second half performance: the tactical discipline, the ability to hit teams on the break, the ability to be a goal threat and limit the opposition to no shots on target. "It's probably the most complete performance since I've been here." Foster spoke of the mentality within the group of players, in responding so quickly to a setback, but also promised that no-one would be getting carried away. "The most important thing is that we stick together, so we don't get too excited when we win and we don't get too disappointed when we lose. "The games have come thick and fast. We know it's a massive game for us next weekend, but for now it's rest, it's recuperation, it's implementing our recovery strategies and then we'll go again." Foster once again paid tribute to the 1,000 or so travelling Green Army, many of whom had set off in the wee small hours of Saturday morning. "They've been brilliant, whether it's been Sunderland, Huddersfield, Leeds or here, they get on the bus, they travel and they get behind us. They recognise moments in the game where we need them and - thank goodness - we've given them some to sing and shout about." 24th Argyle responded to the rare disappointment of successive home defeats by delivering a 2-0 win with a supreme away performance at the other end of the country. A trip to Middlesbrough is never easy, from south-west to north-east, but the travelling Green Army were rewarded with a fantastic Pilgrim performance on the road. Matty Sorinola and Ryan Hardie notched the decisive strikes in a rampant opening half-hour, and the Greens could have scored a lot more before comfortably seeing out three very impressive points. Argyle: Hazard, Houghton, Pleguezuelo (Phillips), Hardie (Waine), Whittaker (Devine), Miller, Gibson, Gyabi (Mumba), Randell, Galloway, Sorinola (Edwards). Substitutes (not used): Cooper, Sousa, Wright, Bundu. Argyle's Under-18s staged a dramatic, last-gasp comeback from 4-1 down against Swindon Town to draw 4-4 and clinch the South West division of the Youth Alliance League title at Millennium Fields. The Greens went into the game knowing a win or a draw would be enough to top the division. Lose, though, and it was opponents Swindon who would pip them to the title. Goals from Freddie Issaka and Joel Sullivan and two penalties from Caleb Roberts - the second in additional time at the end of the game - stunned the visitors and ensured that Argyle finished as champions. Argyle now look to the upcoming Merit League which provides another chance for the young Greens to win another trophy. 21st Head Coach Ian Foster took the 3-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion and its circumstances, on the chin, saying: "It's a really difficult night for us. We're obviously disappointed with the result. "The second half looked like a really lethargic and tired performance. I get it and I understand why it was that." The loss was the third against top-flight opposition in seven days, following the two defeats by Leeds in both Cup and League and those games had clearly taken their toll. "I can't criticise the players; I take responsibility," Foster said. "The players have done everything we've asked of them. It was just a really honest - but tired - performance. "You could just see the way we played second half, too many negative passes, too many backward passes, setting the pressure on ourselves, and it made it difficult for us. "We have to credit the opposition for their defensive shape and structure. We found it difficult at times to get through it." Foster insisted that it was important to reflect, review and recover. "The big thing for us is togetherness," he said. "As a group of players and staff, we have to stick together, we have to look after one another... because they'll be hurting after that. They care. We all do." 20th A powerful second-half display was enough for West Bromwich Albion to take maximum points with a 3-0 win at Home Park. The Greens matched their visitors throughout the first period but without really stretching the Baggies at the back, and the pattern swung fully in favour of West Brom after the break. Cedric Kipre grabbed a crucial opener from close-range after a corner fizzed across the danger area and the Pilgrims had to accept defeat when Mickey Johnston doubled the lead with a sublime curling strike into the roof of the net. Tom Fellows added a late third to underline the victory. Argyle: Hazard, Mumba (Sorinola), Sousa (Miller), Hardie, Whittaker, Devine (Houghton), Gibson, Gyabi (Edwards), Randell (Bundu), Galloway, Phillips. Substitutes: Burton, Pleguezuelo, Waine, Issaka. 18th For Ian Foster, the disappointment of Argyle losing at home in the Sky Bet Championship for the first time in over four months was tempered by the fact that the Greens ran a very good Leeds United side very close. "It was a really good game; a really tense and tight game of football," said Foster "I thought we started slowly, we potentially gave them a little bit more respect than we ought to have. We were quite passive at times, particularly out of possession, which gave them a foothold in the game. "We're disappointed with the manner of the first goal, but it was the only shot on target in the first half, so we know that we've limited a really good team to very few chances. "In the second half, I thought we were outstanding. From first to last whistle in the second half, we played how we wanted to play. We got up to Leeds, made it very difficult, showed a lot of control and patience in possession and created opportunities, which was really pleasing. "We respect that they're an unbelievable team, but we stayed in the game. I thought we were always in it. We're always mindful of the threat they pose, but I thought we were terrific. "Sometimes you've got to give the crowd a little bit to shout about. I thought our second half performance did that. "We're disappointed, of course, because we've come away with zero points, and that's the name of the game; you've got to get points on the board." Argyle Women advanced into the final of the A&S Interiors Devon Women's Premier Cup following a dominant display against Torquay United at Coach Road. Goals from Ellie Sara (within five minutes), Fern Orchard, Mia Endacott and Jemma Rose gave the Greens a comfortable 4-0 win and confirmed another final against Exeter City to take place in mid-April. 17th Argyle lost 2-0 to Leeds United and were undone by two predatory contributions, either side of half-time, against a team striving to make a swift return to the Premier League. The Greens fell behind to a Wilfried Gnonto stabbed effort on just 10 minutes but quickly recovered to more than match their lofty visitors in the first half. It was all Argyle immediately after the restart, as Leeds retreated into a defensive shell, but they broke the shackles, and Pilgrim hearts, with a decisive second from Georginio Rutter to seal the points. Argyle: Hazard, Houghton (Bundu), Pleguezuelo, Whittaker, Miller (Sousa), Devine, Gibson (Galloway), Randell, Waine (Hardie), Phillips, Sorinola (Mumba). Substitutes (not used): Burton, Scarr, Edwards, Issaka. 16th Argyle Head Coach Ian Foster and members of the first-team squad recently surprised Argyle Pride participants at a training session to mark the launch of the EFL and PUMA's new Rainbow match ball. The ball, which will be used by all 72 Clubs across Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two matches from 16-24 February, has been launched to mark LGBTQ+ History Month. The PUMA ORBITA Rainbow Ball design includes the rainbow and progress colours, symbolising that football is for everyone and representing the League's active support for inclusion throughout the game. For every goal scored with the Rainbow Ball across the Championship, League One and League Two, PUMA will make a donation to an LGBTQ+ Fans for Diversity Fund. The money raised will be used to support LGBTQ+ supporters and their projects which may include initiatives to raise awareness about inclusion in football, events promoting diversity, or providing resources for LGBTQ+ fans within the football community. Argyle Pride is a team and programme run by the Argyle Community Trust supporting the LGBTQ+ community with the sessions offering fun, friendly, small-sided football sessions for all abilities. Sessions are open to those who identify as LGBTQ+ or are an ally of the community. Head Coach, Ian Foster said: "What Argyle Pride are doing as well as campaigns like the EFL Rainbow ball are brilliant for LGBTQ+ community and can hopefully show people around the country how important initiatives like this are. "The game of football is for everybody. We're one football club and one Argyle, from myself, to the players, through to the staff and fans and community." 15th Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster, reflected ruefully on Coventry's 96th-minute equaliser last night which cost the Greens two points after a hard-fought game. "Of course, we're disappointed in the manner in which we've drawn the game, but in terms of the overall performance, I'm proud of them," he said. "I don't want to reflect on one moment of the game where we've defended poorly," said Foster. "Across the 97 minutes of the game, we've done incredibly well. "[Coventry] have got so much quality. I think they'll be a team that'll be in the top six at the end of the season; I'd be very surprised if they're not. We've taken them to a hair's breadth of getting three points. "I thought we defended resolutely. 'They're always going to cause you problems because they've got so many good players, but I thought we limited them to very few opportunities. "I thought we carried a big threat going the other way as well. "The boys did everything I asked of them in the second half. I asked the players to be brave in possession. We train in a certain way, and we want them to reflect what we do on the on the training pitch in the games. In order to do that, they've got to be brave. "They're talented enough; they're technically good enough; they've got the tactical understanding. We just need that bravery, that courage to get on the ball in tight areas when you're under pressure and find a way of getting out. "I'm sure when we look back and we review the game, we'll probably be even more desperately disappointed that we haven't got all three points. "Credit to the players, they deserved all three, but you don't always get what you deserve in football, unfortunately." 14th Argyle and Coventry City played out a 2-2 draw, condensing most of the scoring action into a frantic 13-minute spell early in the second half at another rammed Home Park, and the Greens came painfully close to emerging as victors from this swift exchange of goals. There was little between the sides in the opening 45 minutes but it all changed when leading scorer Morgan Whittaker swept the Pilgrims in front after the restart. Ellis Simms levelled with a scruffy rebound effort on 66 minutes but Argyle immediately piled up the other end and a cross from Mickel Miller took a wicked deflection as it flew into a jubilant home net. Victory was seconds away when a freak goal, the ball ricocheting off a group of players before creeping over the line, handed Coventry a share of the spoils and a cruel conclusion for the Greens. Argyle: Hazard, Sousa (Miller), Hardie (Waine), Whittaker (Houghton), Devine, Gibson, Gyabi, Randell, Galloway, Phillips (Pleguezuelo), Sorinola (Mumba). Substitutes (not used): Burton, Scarr, Edwards, Issaka. 13th Argyle's Under 18s beat Cheltenham Town 2-0 in their penultimate fixture in the Youth Alliance League, with goals from Tegan Finn coming within ten minutes of the start, and from Josh Bernard early in the second half. The vital three points mean that Argyle stay top of the league. There was a chance that the Greens could have won the title then and there, but second-place Swindon Town beat Bristol Rovers 4-3 to keep them in with a chance. Swindon are five points behind Argyle, and they have two games left. Argyle's final game is against Swindon: avoiding defeat would clinch the title for the young Greens. 12th Congratulations to midfielder, Jordan Houghton, and his partner on the birth of their second daughter. 11th For 45 minutes at the Stadium of Light yesterday, Argyle's longest trip of the season looked set to be one of the happiest. A beautifully taken goal by Ryan Hardie towards the end of the first period meant the Greens led Sunderland 1-0 at half time. However, after the interval, the home side turned the tide with three goals from Pierre Ekwah, Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham giving the hosts the advantage: 3-1 at the final whistle. "It was an outstanding first half; I thought we were excellent. I thought we showed bravery in possession. I thought it was a really effective and disciplined away performance," said Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster. However, he admitted that the manner of the goals conceded in the second 45 was more disappointing "The set play is a disappointing one because the players haven't done what we've asked them to do in those moments. For the second one, we're disappointed that the referee hasn't allowed Adam Forshaw to come back onto the pitch. "Overall, I'm proud of the group in terms of their efforts and their application. We just need to get better in individual moments, because big teams and big players will punish you. "There's plenty of things for us to look at, in terms of the positives in the game, and loads for us to build on. We have to learn from the mistakes that ultimately cost us." Argyle Women failed to recover from a first-half, four-goal deficit against Rugby Borough at Coach Road. After the break, Ellie Sara and Imy Crawford scored for a much-improved Argyle, but it was too late to salvage the match. "I'm a little bit disappointed with the first 45 minutes," said manager Ryan Perks. "With the ball, we actually did some okay stuff but again it's individual errors that have stopped us getting something from the game today. "In the second half, I thought we were superb. We spoke about being brave, being confident, getting on the ball and playing football which is what we did. We played some lovely football and scored some good goals and could've probably had more given some of the chances we created but ultimately, it's the first-half errors that have cost us today." The Greens now have a break from league action as they return to Coach Road next Sunday to take on Torquay United in the Devon County Cup semi-final. 10th A second-half surge from Sunderland condemned Argyle to a 3-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light. The Greens were excellent in the first period, creating the better early chances and snatching the lead with a Ryan Hardie goal six minutes before the interval. Momentum switched the full 180 after the break, Pierre Ekwah levelling from a free-kick and the impressive Jack Clarke edged the Black Cats in front on the hour. Substitute Jobe Bellingham made it three goals in 15 minutes and all three points for the hosts. Argyle: Hazard, Mumba (Sorinola), Hardie, Whittaker, Miller (Sousa), Devine (Waine), Gibson, Gyabi, Galloway, Phillips (Pleguezuelo), Forshaw (Randell). Substitutes (not used): Burton, Scarr, Edwards, Issaka. 9th Morgan Whittaker has been named EFL Championship player of the month for January. He beat Leeds winger Dan James, Stuart Armstrong of Southampton and Watford goalkeeper Ben Hamer to the award. Morgan played in all five of Argyle's games that month, scoring against Watford, Sutton, Huddersfield and Cardiff. After only a month in charge at Home Park, Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster, was nominated for Championship manager of the month. The award went to Daniel Faroe of Leeds. 8th For the second FA Cup tie in a row against Leeds United, Argyle drew 1-1 with their fellow Sky Bet Championship side in 90 minutes – however, this time, the Yorkshire side made extra time count, scoring three more, courtesy of the range of quality substitutes they were able to bring on in extra time. Argyle were without nine first-team players--either because they were ineligible, injured or absent for personal reasons . Of their six substitutes, three were from the under-18 squad. And the game was played in atrocious conditions,, with driving wind and rain leaving both pitch and players sodden. Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster, was realistic in his reflections after the match: He said: "I feel for the players for the scoreline; I think it's a tad unfair on us. We're obviously desperately disappointed with the result because we wanted to stay in the competition as long as we could. "You play against top opposition, and they can be quite devastating at times. It's a little bit sobering for us but we learn from it. We have to review the game properly and make sure we don't make those same mistakes again. "When you play top quality teams they can make like-for-like changes or, in Leeds' case, respectively, probably better than what they had on the pitch. We knew the issues we had going into the game, there's not a great deal we can do about any of that. "The guys are full of character, and showed a great togetherness, even when we went behind. I was pleased; I thought we deserved to get back in the game at the time we did. "We posed a threat to Leeds, particularly for the first 105 minutes, I thought we were excellent. We'll take the positives out of the game, and use it in the games to come." 6th Extra-time proved the undoing of Argyle in a 4-1 home defeat to Leeds United in the FA Cup replay at Home Park. A fascinating game offered few chances until Wilfried Gnonto guided the visitors into a second-half lead but the Greens fought back with a set-piece goal from Brendan Galloway. The additional 30 minutes arrived in sodden conditions and Leeds marched on with goals from Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Ilia Gruev. Argyle: Hazard, Mumba, Edwards (Waine), Hardie, Whittaker, Wright (Issaka), Gibson, Randell, Galloway (Scarr), Phillips (Matthews), Sorinola (Roberts). Substitutes (not used): Burton. 4th A number of firsts were ticked off in Argyle's victory at Swansea City yesterday afternoon. It was the Greens' first goal from a corner, their first away win of the season and the first in the Championship for 5,054 days (the last was in their previous stay in that league in 2010). Also remarkable was captain, Morgan Whittaker's strike against his former team which came from the well-worked corner move. Head Coach, Ian Foster, pronounced himself delighted with the result and to have removed the monkey from the team's back. "Today's performance and result is really pleasing. To come here, get a clean sheet, win the game and score from a set play--another first for us--I'm so proud of the players. They've been terrific. "Credit goes to Kevin, [Nancekivell] and to the boys for taking on the information and then implementing it under pressure. We're really pleased that it's come off. "The difficulty is we've got is that we score at the rate of a promoted team and we concede at the rate of a relegated team - so that needs addressing. Away from home, we have to play from a structure, we have to press from a shape, and we have to be really compact and well disciplined. "We want to be creative. We want to find a way - and today we found it. The timing of the movements, the sets, the pass and Morgan's finish was outstanding. It's another one that we've ticked off, but the important thing is we've come here, we've kept the clean sheets, we've scored a set-play goal and we've won the game - but it's just the beginning. "We've got to do it again and again and again. That's the test and the challenge for us." An inspired hat-trick from Ellie Sara gave the Argyle Women an important 4-3 victory over Milton Keynes Dons at Stadium MK in the Women's National League on Sunday afternoon.. The Dons went ahead twice but goals from Sara and Jade Berrow sealed the win, despite a late goal from the Dons. Argyle are now in seventh place in the division, 11 points off the final relegation spot. 3rd Morgan Whittaker returned to familiar territory to score the only goal in a classic away performance from Argyle and the long wait for a victory on the road is over. Whittaker struck the winner on 18 minutes, as the Greens played with superb efficiency and belief in a first half that left the Swans scrabbling to find an answer to their attacking conundrum. The Pilgrims remained steadfast after the break, despite a late onslaught, and secured three massive points to perfectly set up a busy February of league and cup commitments. Argyle: Hazard, Mumba (Sorinola), Hardie (Waine), Whittaker (Pleguezuelo), Miller (Sousa), Devine (Randell), Gibson, Gyabi, Galloway, Phillips, Forshaw. Substitutes (not used): Burton, Wright, Roberts, Issaka. Morgan Whittaker is now joint top scorer in the Championship. His goal against Swansea brought his tally for the season so far to 16, the same number as Sammy Szmodics of Blackburn Rovers. Argyle's Under-18s shared a goalless draw with Oxford United in the Youth Alliance League on Saturday morning. Jamie Lowry's side were disappointed not to take all three points but will now turn their to next weeks top-of-the-table clash with Swindon Town, ith both teams fighting it out to be crowned champions of the Youth Alliance League. 1st The final day of the January transfer window was a busy one involving Argyle and ex-Argyle players. Argyle made a significant signing, with the capture of England Under-19 left back, Lino Sousa. Sousa was loaned to Argyle for the rest of the season, having just been signed by Aston Villa from Arsenal. On the outgoing front, Saxon Earley, still recovering from injury, was loaned out to Wycombe Wanderers, joining Matt Butcher who had signed for them earlier in the week. Then, at the last moment, former Argyle loan defender, Nigel Lonwijk, was loaned out to Wycombe by his parent club, Wolves. And former striker, Niall Ennis, who had joined Blackburn at the start of the season, was sold to Steven Schumacher's Stoke. Most importantly, for Argyle fans, was that, despite much speculation involving Premier League sides and Italian Serie A outfit, Lazio, Morgan Whittaker remains at Home Park. |
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