Plymouth ARGYLE vs Oxford United-Match Report

John Sheridan’s four match unbeaten run came to an end on Saturday afternoon after James Constable scored the winning goal for Oxford at Home Park as the visitors won 1-0. 

After last Saturday’s triumph away at Aldershot Town, John Sheridan had made one change to the side. Sheridan had decided to go for an attacking line-up instead of a defensive line-up, for this he brought in Gozie Ugwu in place of Paul Wotton who was dropped to the substitute bench.  Wotton was joined by six other substitutes including: - Ollie Chenoweth, Andres Gurrieri, Ronan Murray, Luke Young, Maxime Blanchard, and Jamie Richards.  Lee Cox made his home debut at Home Park after signing on loan from Swindon last Friday.  Cox played against his former team-mates on Saturday after he had a loan stint at Oxford earlier in the season.  As for the visiting team Oxford United there manager Chris Wilder made two changes to the side that lost 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday Evening.  Both Alfie Potter and Dean Smalley made way for Striker Tom Craddock and midfielder Josh Parker.  Home Park welcomed back former Argyle player and most recent Oxford goalkeeper Luke McCormick after he has had a spell out of professional football. 

The first half started very positive for the visitors Oxford United as Plymouth Argyle’s captain Conor Hourihane started the encounter from the centre circle.  Argyle could never get going in the first half as the visitors Oxford United were in total control of the Npower League Two fixture.  From the start of the meeting Plymouth Argyle were outrun in the midfield with Paris Cowan-Hall, Lee Cox, Conor Hourihane and Jason Banton getting no time on the ball at any time.  In the 16^th minute of the first half the visitors had taken a well-deserved lead in front of the Devonport End.  United’s number 9 James Constable had side footed in from close range after a low cross from Damien Batt who claimed the ball from a mistaken pass from left back Onismor Bhasera. If Constable had let Damien Batt’s cross roll across the penalty area the shot would have in fact gone wide of Jake Cole’s goal.  From the goal that Oxford had scored it gave them confidence.  They were in control of the game and were passing the football around comfortably through the defence, midfield and strikers.  Midway through the first half Conor Hourihane had to chance his match day shirt after a bang on the head.  The blood was caused from a high boot inside Oxford’s half.  The visiting team had nearly made it 2-0 from a counter attack.  James Constable had made space and run down the right wing.  With only Zimbabwe international Onismor Bhasera in the defensive position he had a lot of covering to do with two other United players joining Constable in the attack.  Excellent defending from Bhasera denied the two players tap ins after he had made contact with the ball and deflected in out for a corner.  From the resulting corner experienced centre back Guy Branston was down on the ground injured in the penalty area.  It had appeared that Branston had been elbowed by an opposition player but the referee did not have the same opinion on the incident. With 10minutes remaining on the clock for the first half Argyle got into the game more after not testing Luke McCormick in goal.  Jason Banton had run with aggression and speed down the left wing into the penalty box.  A powerful low shot was nearly goal bound but from an outstanding save from McCormick denied the Palace loanee his third goal in three games for Plymouth Argyle. In the final minutes of the first half Argyle were awarded two corners in quick succession, the corners were well defended by Oxford and were cleared.  Half Time Argyle 0-1 Oxford.

Second half came around very quickly for Argyle who were shooting towards the Devonport End.  Oxford appeared out of the tunnel first with fans applauding former Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick as he took he’s place in goal in front of the Devonport.  From the start of this half Plymouth Argyle looked more like a football team equalling up to and pressuring the players from Oxford to make mistakes.  There was real urgently in Argyles play as they passed it around the field of play.  Making his full debut Gozie Ugwu had nearly added a goal to his name after holding off Captain Jake Wright and shooting wide of the post.  Minutes later Durrell Berry had nearly granted Oxford a second goal, after a sloppy back pass to goalkeeper Jake Cole, Tom Craddock had the easy of chances to score, but fortunately for Argyle, Cole stood tall and saved from Craddock’s low shot.  Argyle had another chance to equalise with Rueben Reid; he had a looping header cleared of the line by Jake Wright.  The first and only substitution that John Sheridan made was to bring on Ronan Murray in favour of Gozie Ugwu in the 69minute.  A straight swap for Argyle.  A controversial moment in the fixture came near the end of the 90minutes.  Central defender Guy Branston headed clear, the clearance landed on top of the goal net and rebounded back into the field of play.  From this Oxford had scored a second goal.  From confirmation that the goal stood, Jake Cole rushed towards the linesmen followed by his teammates to contest about the goal.  After long consideration from the referee and linesmen the goal was rightly disallowed as the football had already gone out of play before the goal had reached the back of the net. 

Plymouth Argyle had lost for the first time since John Sheridan came to the club; a James Constable goal had earned the visitors all three points.                           

Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Jake Cole; 2 Durrell Berry, 26 Anthony Charles, 5 Guy Branston, 14 Onismor Bhasera; 7 Paris Cowan-Hall, 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 10 Lee Cox, 19 Jason Banton; 24 Reuben Reid, 18 Gozie Ugwu (28 Ronan Murray 69). Substitutes (not used): 4 Maxime Blanchard, 8 Luke Young, 13 Ollie Chenoweth (gk), 15 Paul Wotton, 23 Jamie Richards, 27 Andres Gurrieri.

Booking: Branston 81.

Oxford United (4-4-2): 24 Luke McCormick; 2 Damien Batt, 4 Michael Raynes, 6 Jake Wright (capt), 26 Liam Davis; 25 Josh Parker, 7 Adam Chapman (16 Andrew Whing 89), 19 Lewis Montrose, 14 Sean Rigg (10 Deane Smalley 62), 9 James Constable, 29 Tom Craddock (23 Luke O’Brien 69). Substitutes (not used): 8 Simon Heslop, 22 Harry Worley, 31 Max Crocombe (gk).

Referee: Chris Sarginson.

Attendance: 7,189 (311 away).