Toothless Argyle Easily Beaten By Donny

Plymouth Argyle put themeselves back in the relegation mire with a terrible performance against Doncaster Rovers. The Greens deservedly lost 0-3 and never looked like troubling the scoresheet.

The Argyle players looked complacent and were beaten in the first half by a well organised Doncaster side. Argyle’s defence had an off day and struggled against Doncaster’s movement and creativity. The Doncaster defence looked strong and easily beat off Argyle’s attacking play. Argyle had quite a number of corners and free kicks (near the eighteen yard box), but hardly created any goalscoring opportunities.

Argyle started the game with the same line up that had won 4 points and scored 5 goals in the previous games against Coventry and Birmingham. This team looked nothing like the one that had done so well in those games.

Argyle started the brighter of the two sides in the first 10 minutes and won several corners. On 7 minutes, Duguid hit a rising volley a couple of yards over, after good play between Barnes and Gallagher.

Doncaster, who had hardly threatened, came to life in the 14th minute. Wellens hit a superb long ball down the Doncaster left. Heffernan beat the offside trap and crossed into the centre of the goal. An unmarked Spicer met the ball with a sweet half volley, from the edge of the box, which rocketed past Larrieu.

Argyle tried to get back into the game, but seemingly played worse as the passing was rushed and a number of players were making silly mistakes.

On 21 minutes Doncaster replaced Wilson (who appeared to be injured when hit by a Gallagher freekick) with attacking midfielder/ forward Hayter.

2 minutes later and Donny should have doubled their lead. Donny had a defensive throw in on the right, which they managed to clear and Woods attacked on the left. The midfielder was clean through but shot wide of Larrieu’s far post, when hitting the target looked easier.

Argyle continued to struggle, and Doncaster eventually doubled their lead in the 32nd minute. The visitors had an attacking throw in on their left. As so often with Argyle’s defensive play this season, the Argyle players were slow to mark attackers and close down space. The ball was simply thrown to left back Roberts, who had lots of space and time to cross, which he did to perfection. An unmarked Hayter headed past Larrieu from 6 yards for another simple goal.

The game looked lost, but Argyle won another attacking free kick on the right in the 36th minute. Gallagher crossed to the far post and Seip connected with a goal bound header. Unfortunately (for Argyle) Neil Sullivan pulled off a superb save, diving low to his left and tipping the ball away for a corner.

Argyle had another chance in the 44th minute when Barnes controlled a Sawyer long throw in the 18 yard box. The young forward turned superbly and hit a cross come shot at goal, which Sullivan palmed away towards the far post. The crowd anticiapted an Argyle player to run in and score, but no-one was lurking.

After 2 minutes of injury time, a woeful half for Argyle ended, and the players left the pitch to a chorus of boos.

Argyle started the second half in a 4-3-1-2 formation with Gallagher playing behind Mackie and Barnes. Duguid, Fletcher and Judge played in midfield, with Duguid on the left hand side of the pitch.

The change brought life into Argyle’s play and on 47 minutes, the Greens won a corner on the right. Gallagher played a good cross to the far post, which Seip met with a header, but Doncaster were able to clear. Argyle attacked again, a minute later, when Fletcher hit a superb long pass to Judge on the right. The diminutive Irishman hesitated, then sent in a great delivery which was headed away for a corner by Chambers.

On 56 minutes, Mackie won a free kick (when he just fell over) on the right. Gallagher crossed and Barker headed straight at Sullivan. 1 minute later, Doncaster midfielder, Spicer kicked out at Gray and was booked.

On 63 minutes George Donnelly made his Argyle debut, substituting the ineffectual Ashley Barnes. Doncaster substituted winger Dean Shiels for Van Nieuwstadt 4 minutes later.

On 69 minutes it was curtains for the Pilgrims. Doncaster won a free kick, near the halfway line, on the right. The freekick was taken quickly and again Argyle’s reaction, marking and closing down was hopeless. A ball was played to full back Chambers who won the ball in the eighteen yard box. He dribbled past a couple of Argyle players, reached the byline and cut the ball back to Heffernan, who hit a rocket past Larrieu from 6 yards.

Sturrock then substituted Fallon for Judge. Argyle then seemed to line up with 3 defenders, Gray moving into midfield and Mackie moving onto the right (I don’t know the formation as the players were all over the place- I don’t think they even knew what tactic was being played!).

On 77 minutes Byfield replaced the injured Wellens, and Clark came on for Gallagher a minute later.

Argyle attacked in vain, with no hope of scoring. On 85 minutes Doncaster won an attacking freekick. When the kick was taken short, the Argyle defence was again slow to close the play down, and Woods shot narrowly wide.

On 88 minutes Clark took a corner on the left and Fallon won the ball at the far post, heading down to Donnelly. The debutant lashed at the ball and skied his shot from 6 yards. Donnelly didn’t look ready for Championship action and it seemed unfair that he was thrown in at the deep end. He played a couple of decent passes, but struggled to find space or make an impact. Donnelly had another chance on 92 minutes but miskicked in front of goal, and the game ended 2 minutes later.

The game ended to more boos, although a great number of Argyle fans had been leaving since the 70th minute.

Personally I found the game extremely disappointing as Argyle showed no fight or spirit. Doncaster needed just a point to ensure survival, but played to win. Argyle looked poor and never likely to score. The tactics were bizarre with players swapping position all over the pitch, but whatever Sturrock did, seemed to have little effect.

Barnes and Mackie were shut out by the excellent Mills and Hird, and Gallagher and Judge never got into the game. The full backs were poor today, especially Gray who couldn’t defend, pass and was targeted for 2 of the goals. Duguid and Fletcher battled, as always, but were often overrun by Doncaster’s midfield.

Fortunately for Argyle Southampton lost and Barnsley drew, but Forest won. This means we are still 19th and 4 points above relegation, but a Norwich win tomorrow in the East Anglian derby would mean squeaky bum time for the Green Army.

After today’s performance, an away win at QPR looks unlikely, so Argyle could be faced with a battle for survival on the last game of the season against Barnsley. Sturrock said it would be a rollercoaster ride, I didn’t think I’d shit myself so much!