Swindon Town vs Argyle - Match Report

With Paolo Di Canio in charge for the Robins on one knew what to expect.  The pilgrims arrived at the County Ground in high spirits but were disheartened with the way the game turned out.  There were 2 changes from the victory over Play-off contenders Aldershot Town on Bank Holiday Monday.  Nick Chadwick was missing through injury, while Jake Cole was recalled after he had sat out of Monday’s game through a groin injury.  There was also one late change for the robins with the vice-captain Alan McCormack rushing to the nearby hospital to be with his pregnant wife for the birth of their first child.  That enabled regular Captain Paul Caddis to make a name for him after being out of the starting line-up for a while.

Swindon Town won the toss and decided to kick off.  So the pilgrims were shooting towards the- The Adkins Family Stand.  As you would expect from the home side they passed the football within triangles and into spaces preventing Argyle from even getting a touch or blocking out a shot from the Robins.  It took the pilgrims plenty of time to settle into the game and build up a couple of passes within some of the midfield players.  With the Robins being at Home they are also hard to beat and break down their formation that they are playing on that day.  The first half was well underway when the Robins had the first shot goal bound of the afternoon, Jake Cole had it covered!!  With Alex MacDonald hoping to add to his tally of goals that had reached 4 after that goal against Aldershot.  He was doing all he could, run at defenders and chasing flick on’s from target man Alex MacDonald to grab a goal to celebrate his 22^nd Birthday.   The first half whistle had gone after 1minute of injury time.  It was much of a chasing game for Argyle.  You could tell Swindon were top of the table with the football but not so with the fans as the green army were chanting all along.  With the character that was Paolo Di Canio it was very interesting watching him with the signals he gave to his players out on the field and also on the bench.    

With the great following off over 1000 green army we were expected to make as much noise as possible.  And so we did not disappoint chanting from the kick-off right until the full time whistle.  What great support who follow Plymouth Argyle around the country wherever we stand in the current league table.  Are average away support is more than 700; keep it up you green army lovers.

Both teams came out for the second half with the green army all fired up and ready to make some noise to rally the pilgrims onto three precious points that would have guarantee our football league status for next season.  The pilgrims started very bright which may have coursed a change of formation or statics from the pilgrims Player-Manager Carl Fletcher.  The pilgrims grew and grew into the game leaving the Robins chasing the ball for very long periods of the game.  With Carl Fletcher opting to move Onismor Bhasera into a more acting position to keep the ball upfront with chadders missing.  We then started to keep the football then move it into dangerous spaces to course Swindon problems.  Paolo Di Canio was the first manager to make a change to the team with Alan Connell replacing Ronan Murray.   A straight swap for the Wiltshire club.  After Di Canio had made that substitution Swindon grew into the game more and more.  It was soon time to introduce on-loan winger Ashley Hemmings who replaced Alex MacDonald.  Carl Fletcher had changed the formation again with Hemmings stepping into a wide role with Luke Young moving into a central midfield role.  The substitution nearly made an impact with the number 31 just shooting wide of the left hand post from a Feeney lay-off.  With Fletcher realising this it took no time for Steve Fletcher to make an appearance coming on for Warren Feeney. This change suited the versatile Ashley Hemmings who likes to run onto balls in wide areas and trouble the defenders. With two players now flicking the football onto Ashley Hemmings and the oncoming wingers to hopefully grab a goal.  The whole team looked comfortable the goalkeeper right through to the target men.  But suddenly the Wiltshire club took the lead through second half substitution Alan Connell shooting past Jake Cole.  This goal broke many Green Army travelling fans that had made the journey to the County Ground. Full Time was approaching when the fourth Offical put up the board for 4 minutes injury time.  Both Onismor Bhasera and Luke Young had shot just wide with Argyle inches close to equaliser.   The referee had blown the whistle Argyle had lost 1-0 but they didn’t get what they deserved.  We should have at least got a point from the result.  But the game was overshadowed by the appearance of the Swindon chairman from the tunnel after the game to announce the passing of Paolo Di Canio mother late on Friday night.  Our thoughts go out to the family. 

Next Saturday’s game is so crucial against Oxford that with a win could see us retain football league status for next season.  See you all at Home Park. GREEN ARMY.