If anyone had asked me at the start of the season to name games where you would expect 3 points I would probably have picked this one as a home win. I think Accrington have finished in the bottom half of the table season after season and have not exactly set the World on fire. But, look at them now and where they are. They boast a load of away wins this season so far and are way further up the league than most would have given them credit for. This isn't going to be any sort of easy ride is it despite Argyle going well also.
Won't be easy for sure. Brought up not far from Accrington and played cricket against them a few times so I do have a bit of a soft spot for them, but at the end of the day they are punching very much above their weight and they are, after all, only a small town near Burnley. Tight game, but just shaded by Argyle by the odd goal.
If Accrington are punching above there weight.....population of 45,000......where does that leave the borough that I live in.....Bromley.....population of 321,000 and getting all excited because Bromley FC have recently reached the National League ( level 5)......only one league below Argyle.... and are scoring goals for fun.....seven at Torquay recently.
So there we go again, never in doubt; all three points, a clean sheet and a seven point gap over 4th. I guess if you are an Accrington fan you would feel aggrieved that you haven't gained at least a point, but it all about putting the ball in the net. A combination of the woodwork (twice), some poor finishing, an outstanding tackle by Nelson and the sponsor's MOTM Luke M prevented Stanley from scoring whilst at the other end Reuben scored a stunner. Argyle lined up unchanged with Carey and Mchugh on the bench and again we ended up shooting in the wrong direction in the first half. How it was 0-0 at half time I have no idea, on another day it could easily have been 2-4. Jervis should have scored and Mellor almost did whilst at the other end Luke and Nelson were the very effective last line of defense. Hartley was having a bit of a 'mare and made mistakes which led to golden opportunities. Accrington played well and we did in patches which resulted in a very enjoyable 45 mins of good passing football. We were very definitely over run in midfield and Stanley were the better team. Carey and Mchugh replaced Tanner and Boateng at HT and the momentum shifted. We certainly looked more solid and for some reason Stanley slowed the game down which resulted in them becoming less of a threat. Reuben's volleyed goal was a thing of beauty- 9 times out of 10 it would have been high wide and not very handsome, but he caught it perfectly and it rocketed in the far corner. Despite a few more scares we saw the game out and pocketed the very valuable 3 points. Ref and linos were okay and at least they were consistent. Worryingly Rueben was subbed off for the last 15 mins with what looked like a groin problem. My MOTM was the mercurial Curtis Nelson simply outstanding, but I have no complaints with it going to Luke. Sums it up really; those two were the best on the pitch (plus Stanley's no 8 who was applauded off by the home fans as well) and we still won. Difficult couple of games coming up, but at least we have some breathing space at the top. COYGs
Very fair summary. Very lucky to survive the first half but much better with McHugh patrolling the space in front of the back four and playing simple balls. Man of the match was the Accrington number 8 Windass in truth with Luke a close second. Tells you all you need to know. Still, once again Adams made the right changes and if you can win when you don't play well...
Lady luck and the woodwork seem to be playing for Argyle today.....not playing as well as we can for a few games now.....and still we come up with the points. The fickled finger of fate wears a green shirt these days with a pilgrims badge on it.......hope Reuben Reids injury doesn't keep him out of the team this coming week....two hard games at Oxford and Luton this coming week......but I must admit I feel more confident with them playing away from home.
Two things. Firstly if you are going to go up then you need some luck. When you are at the bottom it always seems to be bad luck but at the other end somehow you get the breaks. Secondly the woodwork never has had anything to do with results or luck. If you hit the woodwork then you have missed and it is an attempt off target. You only score by getting the ball between the posts and I've never understood this "saved by the woodwork" comment that commentators come out with. As said above really. We rode our luck today and last season and the cuple before we would have lost this game easily. Accrington are the best side I've seen so far this season. I agree that Windass (no.8 and nephew of Dean) was the best player on the park and not far off was their No.14. I wouldn't mind either of them in my team. The goal was class and a right dipper over the crowded box from where I sit. Considering their keeper is 6ft 9ins I believe then to get it over him and down took some doing. I don't agree with the Ref comment. I thought he was a bit of a prat although he got most of the important things right. I do have to wonder what they see one way and not the other though. Still waiting for my homer.
yes the ref was a bit of a prat sensible, but I just thought we have had much worse and as you say he got most important things correct. Don't think I would argue about any of the yellows though and for once the ref wasn't the centre of attention.
I just don't get what these officials see mainly against Reid that they don't see when it's reversed. Week after week he has kicks awarded against him for what sometimes seems to be nothing at all. Yet, when he is a couple of feet away from a Ref or lino and is being held like a mother holds it's newborn so blatantly that even a blind person would see it and gets nothing at all. I know I'm biased and am supposed to be but the fouls against are so obvious it's criminal they are not given. The two pens against us that Pompey got were both well less obvious than the stuff Reid has to put up with. Also special mention for the Lyndhurst lino who I recognised from previous games. He has a habit of giving the supporters who question his decisions the single finger salute behind his back. He did it today and if that was a player then the player would be in trouble.
Yes, the lino did give the crowd the finger and given the amount of pushing and holding he failed to see, I'm surprised he knew where the crowd were located. There was one particularly blatant one on I think Tanner right by the Lyndhurst touchline when the Accrington player put both arms on his shoulders and pushed him over. Must have been all of ...oooh... 5 feet away from the lino? Reid is now not only getting no protection whatsoever but is getting spoken to when he complains. It happened yesterday and it happened at Notts County. Makes you wonder if there isn't some referee conspiracy against him rather like Chelsea, who can't buy a penalty because they are believed to have a side packed with divers. If so, it's unfair, Reid only gives as good as he gets and as the attacker, I'm sure he'd be much happier and more successful if the grappling was banned for both parties.
The Accrington manager said that if his team played like this every week ....they would win this league by 10 to 15 points. What went wrong last night then ?......2-0 up...and then lose 3-4 at home against AFC Wimbledon of all teams ? PS.....the wombles big boy didn't score any of them.
