There were
two changes for today’s vital game against Bradford City that started over a
week ago against Northampton Town. With Conor Hourihane and
Onismor Bhasera dropping to the bench it gave way for Ashley Hemmings and Nick
Chadwick to come into the starting 11. Another
change was on the substitute bench with Steve Fletcher coming in for and making
a debut appearance in a green shirt. Never
less Bradford who had to make similar changes with suspension rallying
throughtout the squad, from what happened after the game, on Tuesday evening,
with Crawley Town
It was
Bradford to get the game under way with the pilgrims kicking towards the Barn Park
End. It took a couple of minutes for the
pilgrims to get a foot hole in the game with Chadwick and Tsoumou holding the
ball up well and flicking the ball on to the wide players. Four minutes was approaching when Argyle was
awarded a free kick from the referee Andy D’Urso just between the corner flag
and half way line. Both free kicks
specialist Wotton and Williams rushed toward the spot for where the free kick
was going to be taken. It was the number
19 Wotton to deliver an in swinging free kick towards the penalty box when un marked Tsoumou raised above anyone else to
head the ball past goalkeeper Matt Duke to make it 1-0 to the pilgrims. You may have recognised the 34 year old from
last week’s match Vs Northampton where he was on loan from the Bantams. It was back to the half way line for Bradford
who was starting to get into the game to pass very neat football but there were
greens shirts everywhere to shut down the Bantams to prevent them from
scoring. Another free kick was awarded
to the greens just outside the penalty box.
It was the other specialist in Robbie Williams that took this one with
Duke scrambling to get a vital touch to parry it onto the post to go out for a
corner. Half time was nearly for both
teams, but neither team could quiet getting the possession of the ball that
they needed. The forth official put the
board up for 2 added minutes to add from the 45 with Argyle trying to get a 2
goal lead with Bradford pushing up the field for an equaliser. The referee blew
for half time with the pilgrims going in 1-0 up at the break.
Both set of
players were eager to get the second half underway with the pilgrims kicking
towards the Devonport end in which the green army were sat. There was one change from the first half for
the Bantams with Kyel Reid replacing Nicky Ravenhill. It was a very positive change that Bradford made
to the team with them going for a more attacking line up to get the equaliser
and the 3 points. From the start it was clear to see the greens were pushing for
a second goal with the quick flowing football they were playing into the strike
partnership of Juvhel Tsoumou and Nick Chadwick. It was clear to see Alex MacDonald running at
the defenders and coming in from the wing, giving them a lot of problems at the
back which paid off inviting free kicks in the pilgrims favour. With the clock ticking away it was time to
introduce the new number 10 ‘big fletch’ Steve Fletch into the game with him
replacing Nick Chadwick. He came
straight into the game with no formation change to become the new target
man. It took a few minutes for Fletch to
get into the game but that paid off with him flicking the balls onto Tsoumou,
Hemmings and MacDonald. Bradford was
getting more and more possession off the ball with them making two more changes
to the starting 11. The pilgrim’s
manager saw this was the case and replaced Hemmings with left back/midfielder
Onismor Bhasera. Berry was very
impressive second half with him linking up with MacDonald. It was from his cross that Duke made two excellent
saves first from Fletchers header and second from Wotton powerful shot that he tipped
over the crossbar for another pilgrim’s corner.
90 minutes was nearing when from an Argyle corner the Bantams broke leaving the greens open and chasing the game.
Fortunate for the pilgrims this attack turned to nothing but the next
one did when Bradford attacked with three upfront passing the ball comfortably
between the midfield and front three. For the first time in the match the
Bradford players found a way through the defenders and passed Jake Cole for a
goal. Off they went and celebrated but
no it was disallowed for offside. The greens
were relieved to see that goal disallowed.
They deserved some luck. Five
minutes were being played after the 90 when again the Bantams were encouraging
all but the goalkeeper to get into the penalty box for a corner. Jake Cole had a superb afternoon when he was
called into action for the first time in the second half to make a double save
from first ex pilgrim Guy Branston’s header and secondly from Bullocks
flick. The five added minutes had been
played when the referee blew for full time.
The greens had won 1-0 from the first half goal which was scored by
Tsoumou. We now move up to 21st place level with today opposition
Bradford City with 40points. Now let’s
all keep together and move onto Good Friday’s game. See you all at Hereford. We’re
Plymouth Argyle and we will always believe!!!!
