Just back from an enjoyable away day- followed the advice on the Rovers website that said there is loads of onstreet parking near the ground....perhaps there was but but it still took an hour to travel the last 3 miles and park. Note to self; -coach next time.
Anyway, Argyle started off with Reid, Jervis and Brunt all on the teamsheet along with Wylde and the usual back 5. Brunt played more 'in the hole' than up front but it doesn't look like his best position. We started off with good tempo and very much on the front foot and forced a couple of good positions & corners in the first 10. Rovers gradually got a foothold in the match and the first half was fairly scrappy. Wlyde had hardly had a touch but the popped up on the left, cut inside, and smashed the ball into the bar from the edge of the box. That, an outstanding block by their defender and almost a goalkeeping mistake were the highlights of the first half from Argyle-on another day we might have been 3 up. Rovers had played some attractive football, especially down their left flank where once again Mellor looked completely out of sorts. Seeing him at closer quarters (rather than my lofty perch in the Lyndhurst) only confirmed my earlier thoughts that some of his defensive positioning is extremely poor-he just didn't seem to know where or what he was supposed to be doing. Despite exploiting that obvious weakness Rovers only had one real attempt on target which Luke saved well, spilled and then re gathered. 0-0 at half time was, I suppose, very satisfactory away from home against a decent team. The other notable episode was Hartley's falling out with one of theirs-no idea what it was about but Hartley and the ref were the target of the Rover's fans ire for the rest of the match.
Start of the second half much of the same but after about 10mins the game really opened up and became end to end. Argyle had the best of the play without really going close but forced plenty of corners. Rovers looked dangerous on the break and Luke pulled off a couple of good saves to keep us in it.. Mellor attempted an interception in the attacking third of the pitch, Rovers broke, Argyle were overun at the back and the score was 0-1. Some plant life for some reason saw the fact that we were losing as just cause to let off a green flare in our end . All that served to do was irritate the rest of the normal Argyle fans as the smoke was blown straight into our faces. Martyn Starnes (PAFC CEO) who was stood about 3 yards from me looking suitably unimpressed. In fairness Argyle didnt give in and scored a deserved equaliser near the end after some tidy play. Good to see Carey come on for the last few minutes.
1-1 was probably a fair result- could maybe have taken all three but in all honesty, the equaliser felt like a winner. Pretty good games all round - Wylde probably MOTM but pushed close by Hartley who was much improved. ref was once again pretty good- didn't give as a penalty for a handball shout but not many would.
An hour to get out of Bristol and home by 8, cant be bad. Another one ticked off -18 to go and nine points clear of 4th.