Plymouth ARGYLE vs Bradford City-Match Report

Plymouth Argyle secured a vital point at home to Capital One Cup finalists Bradford City on Tuesday evening to move them of the bottom of the Npower League Two table.

John Sheridan had made two changes to the side that were defeated 2-1 by Gillingham the pervious Saturday.  Defender Anthony Charles was rested for the game after he had picked by a slight groin injury in the fixture on Saturday. Replacing Charles in central defence was Paul Wotton, making his 468 appearance for his hometown club Plymouth Argyle; most of these appearances have been played in central defence before switching to a more defensive midfield player. Another change from John Sheridan was to be in midfield, after arriving on loan from Bristol City in time for the fixture, left sided midfielder Joe Bryan was to make his full Argyle debut in place of Ipswich loanee.   There was also a change on the substitute bench after Tyler Harvey was given a chance to feature in a first team game after he has been scoring goals in the youth team.  The visitors to Home Park, Bradford City, had made six changes to the side that drew 1-1 at home to Aldershot on Saturday. Matt Duke came back into the side after he served his match ban after being given a straight red card in the Capital One Cup Final held at Wembley.  Defender Andrew Davies was put into the starting 11 in favour of Michael Nelson.  In midfield Kyel Reid took the place of former Pilgrim Will Atkinson, who was dropped to the bench.  The other changes in the side were that Strikers Andy Gray and Nathan Doyle both came into the side in favour of James Hanson and experienced midfielder Gary Jones. The final change was Garry Thompson coming into the side.

On a Tuesday evening where temperatures were below zero both teams emerged from the tunnel lead by their captains Conor Hourihane and Ricky Ravenhill.  The first half was underway with Conor Hourihane and Crystal Palace loanee getting play underway in the 7:45pm kick-off shooting towards the barn park end in the first half where Plymouth Argyle had the first attack of the evening.  After collecting the ball out wide by the corner flag Reuben Reid skipped passed his man with ease to fire it into the penalty area where Argentine winger Andres Gurrieri was situated.  After running towards the ball to fire it into the back the net the ball found itself behind Andres Gurrieri and he ended up shooting high and wide of the goal.  Within a couple of minutes of Argyle having their first attack Bradford had nearly gone in front from a goal from Garry Thompson.  After the defenders tried to play off-side for Thompson just outside the penalty area Thompson spirited passed with only Jake Cole to beat in the Devonport goal. Thompson was getting ever closer towards goal with Jake Cole standing tall and spread out wide; he saved with his feet to deny the visitors a first half lead.  After scoring at the weekend against Gillingham, Jason Banton had a chance to add a goal to his name from outside the penalty area, Banton had plenty of room to shot from outside the penalty box, and a good save from Matt Duke denied the speedy winger from adding to his goal tally. The danger did not end there with defender Andrew Davies having to clear the ball after Duke could not hold onto the shot.  From the clearance Onismor Bhasera calmly passed it back to Conor Hourihane from the defenders clearance.  The next attack came with Banton sliding the ball through to Gurrieri after some trickery inside the box, Gurrieri’s powerful exceeding shot was going into the back of the net but the goal was prevented by a goal line clearance from Captain Ricky Ravenhill to turn it over the bar. Just towards the half hour mark Bradford, who had got more and more into the game, had a chance to take the lead from a Kyel Reid free-kick from 25yards. A dipping free kick was caught well by goalkeeper Jake Cole.  With one additional minute added on to the 45, Bradford was awarded a free-kick after Guy Branston had fouled his former teammate.                                                                                                        Half-Time Argyle 0-0 Bradford City

Player’s officials and management staff appeared for the second half with the Pilgrims shooting towards the green army situated in the Devonport. Passy winger Jason Banton had nearly scored once again from a piece of brilliance from himself.  After shutting the Bradford defenders down extremely well Jason had won the ball and passed it to Lee Cox who was alongside him.  The loanee then slide it to Banton once again who fought his way through the defence to create an opening and shot towards goal.  A touch from Duke helped the ball onto the post, the rebound of the ball feel to Rory McArdle who cleared away from danger. Bradford first corner of the first half was met by Carl McHugh whose header just went wide of the post. Bradford was to make their first substitution of the evening by bringing on striker James Hanson, who not so long ago was working in Co-operative and playing non league football for Eccleshill United, in place of Andy Gray.  Immediately John Sheridan was to bring on Plymouth Argyle’s number 9 Nick Chadwick for Rueben Rid.  Great play down the left wing from debutant Joe Bryan, Jason Banton and Onsimor Bhasera created a great opportunity for Andres Gurrieri to score.  Triangular play from the three invited Banton once again to find freedom down the left.  A high in-swinging cross was presented to Gurrieri who was very unlucky not to connect with the ball at the near post.  Bradford were to bring on two substitutions, returning to Home Parkfor the first time since leaving Will Atkinson took the place of Zavon Hines. After hitting the cross bar from 20yards Garry Thompson was the player to also make way as the away team sensed all three points to take back to Yorkshire on a Tuesday evening.  On the 86^th minute John Sheridan brought on two more players to freshen the squad up.  Paris Cowan-Hall and Tyler Harvey were the men to take the places of debutant Joe Bryan and Andres Gurrieri. With six minutes additional time added on the 90 Argyle had nearly got the winner in the last few seconds of the six added on.  After Lee Cox had nicked the ball on the half way line he then booted it up field to where Tyler Harvey and Nick Chadwick were situated.  From where the ball had landed the defender was put under huge pressure from Tyler Harvey that he had actually kicked it back to Matt Duke in goal, from the ball slipping from his hands both Harvey and Chadwick were unable to put the ball in the back of the net.                                                                                                                                                                                       Full Time Argyle 0-0 Bradford.                 

Argyle (4-5-1): 1 Jake Cole; 4 Maxime Blanchard, 15 Paul Wotton, 5 Guy Branston, 14 Onismor Bhasera; 27 Andres Gurrieri (7 Paris Cowan-Hall 86), 10 Lee Cox, 19 Jason Banton, 6 Conor Hourihane (c), 18 Joe Bryan (29 Tyler Harvey 86); 24 Reuben Reid (9 Nick Chadwick 69). Substitutes (not used): 8 Luke Young, 13 Ollie Chenoweth (gk), 23 Jamie Richards, 28 Ronan Murray.

Booked: Branston 45, Blanchard 68.

Bradford City (4-4-2): 12 Matt Duke (gk); 2 Stephen Darby, 23 Rory McArdle, 5 Andrew Davies, 16 Carl McHugh; 20 Zavon Hines (14 Will Atkinson 78), 4 Ricky Ravenhill (c), 24 Nathan Doyle, 7 Kyel Reid; 10 Andy Gray (9 James Hanson 66), 11 Garry Thompson (17 Alan Connell 80). Substitutes (not used): 1 Jon McLaughlin, 18 Gary Jones, 21 Nahki Wells, 22 Michael Nelson.

Booked: Ravenhill 65.

Referee: Andy Davies.

Attendance: 5,609 (174 away).