Plymouth ARGYLE vs Dagenham & Redbridge-Match Report

Plymouth ARGYLE 0

 

Dagenham & Redbridge 0

 

Plymouth Argyle move out of the Npower League Two relegation zone on goal difference with a goalless draw at Home Park against Dagenham & Redbridge.

After last Saturdays goalless draw, home to Accrington Stanley John Sheridan had made three changes to his side that started the game.  Jake Cole came into the side, through Rene Gilmartin recovering from the hamstring injury that he had picked up minutes from half time last Saturday.  Also missing from the game was centre-back Curtis Nelson, the Stoke born was ruled out of the game through a groin injury that has been troubling him in recent weeks.  From Nelson’s absence Anthony Charles moved to centre-back alongside Guy Branston, this meant that Onismor Bhasera moved to left-back.  Sheridan also re-called Luke Young to the side, alongside, Captain Conor Hourihane, after he put in a magnificent display when he came on as a substitute last Saturday.  The manager gave Jason Banton his debut in a green shirt after he arrived at Home Park on Thursday on loan from Crystal Palace.   There was also a re-call to England under 18’s striker Matt LeCointe.  Matt was placed on the Substitute bench alongside: - Ollie Chenoweth, Maxime Blanchard, Paul Wotton, Jamie Lowry, Andres Gurrieri and Tyler Harvey.    However the visiting team’s manager John Still made one change to the Dagenham & Redbridge team that lost 2-1 at home to Morecambe.  Ben Strevens had replaced Jake Reed in the 4-3-3 formation that the Daggers had played. 

On a Winter’s Saturday afternoon the sun was shining, the players walked out onto the green, green grass applauding the fans situated in the stadium.  Birthday-boy Captain Conor Hourihane’s side kicked of the first half with the players attacking the Devonport.  In all three consecutive home games Plymouth Argyle have attacked the Devonport in the first 45minutes.  The visiting team started very brightly at the start of the first half testing the Argyle defence and Goalkeeper Jake Cole early on.  All four defenders were defending gracefully and solidly throughout the first 45.   There first half chance came when Luke Howell headed wide after a Femi IIesanmi had delivered an accurate cross into the penalty area.  From this miss it was a let of for the Argyle defence after Howell was left un-marked in the penalty area.  Another player grateful that this opportunity did go wide was goalkeeper Jake Cole, Cole was not going to be able to save it as he was flat footed in the middle of the goal mouth.  A golden chance for Argyle to go ahead was presented to second time Pilgrim Reuben Reid.    Half way through the first half Luke Young over kicked his cross, but fortunately Paris Cowan-Hall came to the rescue, not letting the ball go out for a Dagenham throwing, he then fired in a low cross catching everyone out, but not Reuben Reid, he clip just avoiding the far post and went narrowly wide of the far post, in front of the Devonport. Dagenham & Redbridge were going for an opening goal; their chances were from corner after corner.  Each corner was met with a Guy Branston thunder bolt header to clear the danger from the goal where Jake Cole was situated in.  After successive corners Durrell Berry had finally cleared all the threat that Dagenham had caused, from his clearance he found Ipswich loanee Ronan Murray down the right wing.  From the strikers presence it forced the defender to kick it out for a throwing.  This throwing from right back Durrell Berry presented Luke Young a glorious chance to score the opening goal of the game.  The defenders cleared the ball, the ball feel straight to midfielder Luke Young; he volleyed and didn’t connect with the ball properly, this only meant that the volleyed shot went high and wide of the ball, in fact this shot impressed everyone by going out of the ground and over the over side of the Devonport.  So another opportunity came Argyles way this time it was Ronan Murrays chance to shoot.  From a Guy Branston cross Murray was first to react and fired the ball onto the cross-bar.  After an additional minute of added time referee Steve Martin blew for half time. 

Second half came round swiftly with both teams emerging from the tunnel at the same time with Dagenham & Redbridge leading the way onto the field of play.  The visiting team kicked of the second half with them the same way as the start of the first half.  22 today Conor Hourihane picked the ball up from an outstanding pass from Zimbabwe International player Onismor Bhasera, running with freedom and determination, Hourihane looked as if he was about to score when he was halfway round the goalkeeper; Chris Lewington.  A low shoot towards the Barn Park End goal was saved comfortably by the visiting team’s goalkeeper.  This half Reuben Reid had every much improved his game; holding the ball up extremely well blocking off defenders until his teammates had joined him in the Argyle attack.  Argyle continued to take the game to Dagenham & Redbridge with several openings falling the way of the men in green.  Conor Hourihane had another chance with Onismor Bhasera threading through the ball to the young captain, once again Lewington saved well from the Irish man’s shot.  Following that opening after was on top.  A corner from Ronan Murray attracted the head of Reuben Reid.  Chris Lewington was nowhere to be seen in the goal, and this was a definite goal until Femi IIesanmi came to the Daggers rescue and headed it off the goal line.  both wingers Paris Cowan-Hall and debutant Jason Banton looked very lively when they had the ball forcing problems for the defence.  Andres Gurrieri was introduced on 78minutes replacing Jason Banton on the left wing.  Andres Gurrieri was looking to impress John Sheridan; he’s first involvement in a game since Sheridan’s arrival to Plymouth, as so he did by doing what he does best running at defenders and attacking the ball.  Within minutes of each other former Ivybridge Community College students Matt LeCointe and Tyler Harvey were introduced nto the game replacing Ronan Murray and Reuben Reid.  From the pairs presence Argyle were able to exploit in the pace that the two young professionals have.  For the last 10minutes including additional time Argyle were passing the ball rapidly and carefully but were unable to create an opening towards goal.  Full Time Argyle 0-0 Daggers.

John Sheridan’s unbeaten run continues as Plymouth Argyle manager with Argyle picking up 5points out of a possible 9 in three games.  From these games the Pilgrims have also kept two clean sheets. 

Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Jake Cole; 2 Durrell Berry, 26 Anthony Charles, 5 Guy Branston, 14 Onismor Bhasera; 7 Paris Cowan-Hall, 8 Luke Young, 6 Conor Hourihane, 19 Jason Banton (27 Andres Gurrieri 78); 28 Ronan Murray (21 Matt Lecointe 80), 24 Reuben Reid (29 Tyler Harvey 85). Substitutes (not used): 4 Maxime Blanchard, 13 Ollie Chenoweth (gk), 15 Paul Wotton, 16 Jamie Lowry.

Dagenham & Redbridge (4-3-3): 1 Chris Lewington; 19 Abu Ogogo, 4 Scott Doe, 2 Luke Wilkinson, 3 Femi Ilesanmi; 15 Matt Saunders (18 Gavin Hoyte 67), 17 Luke Howell, 24 Billy Bingham (23 Brian Woodall 88); 7 Sam Williams, 9 Ben Strevens, 12 Medy Elito. Substitutes (not used): 14 Jake Reed, 16 Kevin Maher, 21 Jake Caprice, 26 Louis Dennis, 30 Jordan Seabright (gk).

Booked: Howell 60.

Referee: Steve Martin.

Attendance: 6,234 (84 away).