This is going to be a tough afternoon for the lads given the Tuesday night slog. Just what you want is a 900 mile round trip to the outpost. Accepting it will be hard though is no excuse for a feignt heart and stranger things have happened this season than believing we can win this. If you look at past results, not the best indicator I know, it shows we don't do that badly against them. I'm going for a backs to the wall upset. COYG
At least one of the bookings was harsh according to the commentary. Good first half with a well organised low block frustrating Sunderland and their fans. Miller (for his attacking) and Gibson (for his defending) singled out for praise by the commentators. The goal consisted of a stunning long blind pass from deep by Whittaker to put an unmarked Hardie away on the half way line. Job done. Hardie then nearly scored a second minutes later trying to chip the keeper from 40 yards. He is a man possessed at the moment. An excellent away half. Let's have another one.
The injury to Adam Foreshaw seems to have been a crucial factor. He probably should have gone off when he went down the first time but stayed on. Two goals went in before he was eventually subbed. It shows what his experience in that midfield is worth.
Sunderland...3-1...Argyle...F/T Ekwah...52mins..........Clarke...59mins..........Bellingham...67mins. Hardie...39mins. Disappointing.
It now transpires Forshaw was not on the pitch when Sunderland scored one of the key goals. He was refused permission to re-enter the pitch to defend the restart.
Extremely disappointing given an excellent first half. Heads will be scratched and deep thoughts thunk to determine what went wrong in the second.
Think we just got outplayed is what happened. The result isn't exactly a shock is it. 120 minutes on Tuesday wouldn't have helped even at the best of times. We move on. It was also a case of other resullts weren't too bad anyway.
Just watched the video. There first goal was due to the defending wall breaking up and allowing a clear path to the net....poor defending....looked more like no one wanted to be hit by the ball....rather girlie....oh dear you can't say that anymore can you.
The worst of it is that I don't think it was a free kick. It's one of those where both players raise their feet to reach a bouncing ball: one does and gets a free kick, the other doesn't and gets a yellow card. They are both facing the same way: it's not as if the contact has dangerous momentum behind it. That Ian Foster is a scamp isn't he? Not a word of complaint about the ref as such but when questioned about Hardie's goal he says (and I paraphrase) "he was onside as he was in his own half when the pass was made... the ref got it right WHICH WAS THE ONLY THING HE GOT RIGHT ALL AFTERNOON". Ouch.
Because of the anomalies, of motorway exits, etc, it's further from Sunderland to Plymouth 413 miles than vice versa 395 miles ... ... so you can't claim you have the longest Championship journey Google Maps Home Park to Stadium of Light 6 hr 37 min 395 miles via M5 Fastest route now.
Errm all that means is that Argyle fans travel the same return trip distance to Sunderland as Sunderland fans do going the other way. But then, I think he was referring to the Argyle players rather than the fans, since they'd played 120 minutes against Leeds on Tuesday night in atrocious conditions and had just one day's full training on Thursday. In the event, the players flew up anyway as they usually do for the more distant fixtures. The travelling fans don't care anyway. They're mental enough for Morecambe or Carlisle on a January Tuesday night in League 1, which is loyalty stretched beyond comprehension.
Sorry mate, I thought I'd laid on enough sarcasm to make people realise I was just being daft ... ... your fans have been praised every time you've been up here. TBF I only mentioned it cos he was 100 miles out. We know all about travelling and, don't forget, we often have the play-offs and Wembley trips on top of what you have
But Smug...your nearest game to Middlesbrough is only a 60 odd mile round trip. Ours is Bristol City and that is a 240 odd mile round trip......a difference of 180 miles ?
Yes but I live in Fife so even my home games are away Seriously, I know your travelling is impressive, it's always mentioned. I've been to Plymouth quite a few times. My favourite was when we were in the directors box for a 4-2 win and were thrown out at half time for over celebrating and abusing the free bar ... we ended up on the terrace, with our lot, and realised one of us would have to drive home. We went into a ditch near a place called Chudleigh Knighton and slept there until the Sunday
