Home Point For Pilgirms

Plymouth Argyle managed to come back from behind twice against third placed Stoke to secure a well earned point at Home Park. Tony Pulis returned to Plymouth this afternoon with his in form Stoke city side, who have been unbeaten in their previous 10 matches. With Stoke opting for a familiar starting 11 for their fans, Argyle deployed a few changes from the 11 that came out against QPR on boxing day. The keeper and defence remained the same with some key changes in the midfield and the front, Norris and Nalis were to start in the middle with Halmosi and Martin on either side, whereas Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was to be partnered by Jermaine Easter up front to complete the line up.


The opening minutes were to be crucial today as the performance of late had seen a trend of Argyle being a little slow off the mark and ithad to be said from kick off this looked to be changed, the first 7 minutes saw some exciting exchanges from both teams as each tried to stamp their own pace on the game. It was however Plymouth who looked the more dominant in the early exchanges until Stoke capitalised on their first clear chance on goal to bundle the ball in on the 8th minute with Cresswell taking the credit.


I would like to say that Argyle fought right back into the game, unfortunately this didn’t seem to be the case, again we were treated to a first half which was marred by a poor official and some rather speculative play from some of the boys in green, Lillian Nalis seemed unable to make any passes to his own team and Paul Connolly was guilty of the same sin as well as leaving his spot as right back too open too often. Two patterns of play were emerging, Argyle playing the long long hoof ball we all know and hate and stoke being the slightly more dominant and organised side.


It is clear that Tony Pulis has been very clear to his side what their agenda is and they went their way about trying to pick through Argyles defences, Seip and Timar again putting in solid performances which were keeping them at bay, whereas the other end of the pitch saw SEB and Easter both working their socks off against a much physically bigger back four who appeared to be soaking up the pressure well.


Both teams were getting a few chances in and Stoke were unlucky not to go 2 up when Romain was rounded by a stoke attack only fr the ball to rebound off the post instead of finding the empty net. It was Argyle who were to strike next though and a foul in the box gifted Plymouth yet another penalty. SEB stepped up to take in his familiar style that he broadcast to all on the official site of slam it low and hard in the corner, Hoult had obviously logged on to see the interview during the week as he new exactly where it was going, as he parried the ball away though he was not counting on SEB running in for the follow up which he slotted home with ease, which on 44 minutes came at just the right time.


Honours even the teams came out after half time with one change to Stoke who had opted to bring on the exotically named Zakuani. The unchanged in body but not in spirit Argyle side however reappeared and decided they were going to take control of the second half. The ball stayed on the floor more and the team had a much more organised nature about them, what followed was a thoroughly entertaining second half Both teams having their fair share of chances and slips which again were only hindered by some dodgy decisions by both ref and assistant, It was however Plymouth who appeared to be creating more of the chances and were doing everything they could, apart from find the net, against what I thought were an impressive city side.


The next goal however was to go the way of the visitors and from close range the ball fired in from the head of Shawcross on the 57th minute to put them 2-1 up. The difference this time was that there was no doubt that we could come back, there was an energy and drive about the players which was suggesting we wanted something out of this game and that we were going to get it. Ten minutes after Stoke had taken the lead it came, Timar headed in from a corner with nothing but conviction to draw level in the 67th minute. The game that followed was fantastic, with Home Park in unusually good voice the commitment from both teams was there, it was again the home side who seemed to be chomping at the bit a little more and in the 81st minute we thought our prayers were answered. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake had taken down a long ball and broken free, Hoult came out of his box and as SEB rounded the keeper he took his legs before he could slot into the empty net. Hoult was rightly shown a red card and Stoke substituted an outfield player for their other keeper before play had resumed, as it was out of the box a free kick was taken and although Norris had a good poke at it the keeper made a clean save. Personally I would have taken the Goal over the red card but football is cruel.


The game finished at good pace but with no more goals coming and a point a piece seemed a fair take for both sides for a thoroughly entertaining game. The game for me raised a few concerns, first and foremost the team need to be playing the whole 90 minutes like they do in the second half, this has been said already but I think it is obvious every game. Secondly the standard of the officials in this division needs a serious review, there were points in the game when the ref appeared to have no idea what he was supposed to be doing, at one point Stoke convinced they had a free kick picked up the ball and if that isn’t deliberate handball? I don’t know what is, but no card followed. Assistant referees need to watch the offside line more closely and perhaps they all need to sit down and go through what the rules actually are. Finally I think stoke are going to be a serious contender this year if they can keep up their form and work rate, the only side I have seen better than them at HP this season has been West Brom. All in all the boys did well today and we have maintained our little playoff spot, good work fella’s.