Plymouth ARGYLE vs Accrington Stanley-Match Report

Plymouth ARGYLE 0

Accrington Stanley 0

 

John Sheridan remains unbeaten as Plymouth Argyle manager as the Pilgrims were held to a goalless draw against Accrington Stanley at Home Park. 

Sheridan had made two changes from the side that were victorious over Morecambe two weeks previously.  Anthony Charles and Reuben Reid both came into the side to make their debuts in greens shirt.  Reuben Reid was making his second debut for Argyle after he began his Professional career with the Pilgrims; he left Plymouth in 2008 to move to Rotherham after making seven appearances for Argyle.   Warren Feeney was ruled out of the game all together due to an ankle injury that he had picked up in the early stages of the Morecambe encounter, whilst Jamie Lowry was dropped to the bench for Onismor Bhasera to play in front of Anthony Charles.  A player missing all together today was Joe Lennox; he was released by John Sheridan at the start of this current week after spending a year with Argyle.  Reading Loanee Gozie Ugwu will have to wait to make his Argyle debut after he was not included in the match-day squad.  Unfortunately Gozie was injured in the closing stages of Friday’s training session.  For Accrington Stanley, there manager Leam Richardson made three changes to their side from there last match, a 2-0 defeat at Aldershot Town. The players to make way were former Pilgrim Lee Molyneux, Will Hatfield and George Miller.  The Stanley players to come into the side were Michael Liddle, Charlie Bennett and Craig Lindfield.

On a cold, Saturday afternoon, Minutes pasted 3pm the teams emerged for the start of the first half, Argyle were shooting towards the Devonport for the first 45minutes, whilst Stanley were attacking the Barn Park End where the visiting fans were situated.  Formally an English International James Beattie was the stand out player in the Stanley squad; the forward player was always first to each ball that was delivered to him forcing Branston and Nelson to defend solidly.   Within five minutes Maxime Blanchard had become the first player to go into Mick Russell’s book after a late challenge.  Accrington Stanley grew more and more into the game with Argyle not troubling at the defenders at all, so they reverted to the long ball up to Yeovil Loanee Reuben Reid, who was partnering Ronan Murray in the Argyle attack.  It wasn’t until the 20 minute when Accrington Stanley had their first attempt at goal. Linfield had distributed a cross with Romulad Boco miss kicking; Gilmartin came to Argyle’s rescue.   Onismor Bhasera had the first sight on goal as Argyle pushed for a lead in the game.  With the Zimbabwe’s strength and power it enabled him to strive through the defenders and pull off a shot.  From this the ball parried just wide of the near post, a goal kick was awarded.  Accrington Stanley had nearly gone a goal up from a James Beattie’s header; fortunately Onismor Bhasera had stayed on the goal line from the corner and cleared through a header.   Stanley was out playing Argyle in the first half with corner after corner greeting the visiting team. From this Argyle had nearly gone in front themselves. After an Accrington corner Berry had cleared up to Reuben Reid after a bit of hesitating from the defender, he turned and spirited passing two on-coming defenders in the process.  From this Reid did all the hard work but the loanee could not pull of a shot as Stanley shut him down and cleared the ball up field.  Half time was nearing when John Sheridan was forced into making his first change of the game.  Jake Cole replaced Rene Gilmartin through injury.  It emerged after full time that Gilmartin had been replaced through a Hamstring Injury that he had picked up.  The fourth official had indicated a minimum of four minutes added time at the end of the 45. Half Time ARGYLE 0-0 STANLEY.       

John Sheridan must have had a word at Half Time through the players being out early to start the second half, attacking the Barn Park End.  Minutes into the second half, Bhasera had nearly given Plymouth Argyle the lead.  A spectacular save from Cameron Belford tipped it over the bar. John Sheridan was very close to bringing on Luke Young when a serious injury happened to Nicky Hunt.  The player jumped up with Ronan Murray, as the midfielder landed on the football pitch he became unconscious.  Murray knew that the injury was serious and so he waved the physio’s on whilst the game was still in play.  After 10minutes of treatment on the field from paramedics, Physio’s and the club doctor, Nicky Hunt was stretched of with a standing ovation from both sets of fans and players.  With the players having time out it was a chance for them to talk tactics and take on some fluids.  With the player safety taken to the ambulance parked in the Devonport gateway, the referee blew the whistle for the game to get restarted with Belford.  The change could now take place, Luke Young was coming on for Maxime Blanchard, who has in recent weeks dropped into midfield alongside Captain Conor Hourihane.   From this substitution the game was turning in Argyle’s favour with Young dominating the midfield.  Argyle was awarded a free kick when Paris Cowan-Hall was fouled just by the corner flag.  Ronan Murray delivered a beauty of a free-kick; this was met by the head of debutant Anthony Charles to head into the back of the net past Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Cameron Belford.  Argyle fans were celebrating but assembled in disbelief after the goal was ruled out for a foul in the penalty box.  From the introduction of Luke Young in midfield he was setting up every single attack.  He found Reuben Reid but he shot wide of the near post into the side netting.  With the 90minutes nearly up there was an additional 11minutes of injury time to be played.  The final substitution made by John Sheridan was to bring Tyler Harvey on with Ronan Murray making way for the 17-year-old.  With minutes remaining of the 11 minutes added on Accrington Stanley were awarded a free-kick just outside of the penalty area. James Beattie had swiped in a marvellous free-kick, to match it Jake Cole was sure to impress Sheridan and so he did by pulling of an outstanding save to the right of his goal. Full Time ARGYLE 0-0 STANLEY. 

All the best to Nicky Hunt on making a full and safe recovery from the injury that he sustained in today’s fixture!!

Argyle (4-4-2): 20 Rene Gilmartin (1 Jake Cole 43); 2 Durrell Berry, 17 Curtis Nelson, 5 Guy Branston, 26 Anthony Charles; 7 Paris Cowan-Hall, 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 4 Maxime Blanchard (8 Luke Young 65), 14 Onismor Bhasera; 28 Ronan Murray (29 Tyler Harvey 90), 24 Reuben Reid. Substitutes (not used): 3 Robbie Williams, 15 Paul Wotton, 16 Jamie Lowry, 27 Andres Gurrieri.

Booked: Blanchard 7, Branston 80

Accrington Stanley (4-4-2): 1 Cameron Belford; 16 Nicky Hunt (19 Marcus Carver 61), 6 Dean Winnard, 2 Peter Murphy, 3 Michael Liddle; 7 Craig Lindfield (12 George Miller 78), 4 Luke Joyce, 8 Charlie Barnett, 34 Laurence Wilson; 33 Romuald Boco, 21 James Beattie. Substitutes (not used): 14 Luke Clark, 15 Bohan Dixon, 17 James Gray, 22 Andrew Dawber, 24 Lee Molyneux.

Referee: Mick Russell.

Attendance: 6,509 (91 away)