Will Sturrock Ever Learn?

Plymouth Argyle lost to Burnley in an even game at Home Park. Goals from Caldwell and Blake, with Judge replying, sealed the win for the Clarets.

The game looked destined for a draw until another defensive mistake allowed Robbie Blake to net the winner (the first goal was also due to a number of poor clearances). Sturrock seemingly wanted Argyle to hold on to the point and didn’t make any changes until after Burnley scored their second. I was always told a good manager is proactive and not reactive!

Sturrock selected the same starting eleven that played so well against Reading, in the last match at Home Park. Mackie started up front and Gallagher played on the left wing. The sun was shining, the pitch looked good (a little bit bobbly in places), and another poor turn out by the crowd (especially in the Devonport End!).

Argyle had a chance in the first minute when Barnes won an aerial ball, played the ball to Gallagher who hit a long ball. The Burnley defence left it and Mackie raced onto the pass, but Jensen was able to clear.

Moments later, Seip (who had a very poor game by his standards) missed the ball on the left hand side of the 18 yard box, and Eagles sent a low cross into the 6 yard box. McCann had the goal at his mercy and fired wide from 6 yards, when he should have scored.

On 13 minutes Barnes again won a good clearance , and was fouled in the process, but he had the strength to play the ball to Mackie. Mackie ran at the Burnley defence, and shot from 25 yards (similar to Reading), but Jensen pulled off a superb save to tip the ball over for a corner.

Burnley broke the deadlock on 15 minutes. Gallagher played a poor ball in midfield which allowed Burnley to attack. The ball was crossed into the Argyle box and Seip, who was unchallenged, cleared, when he should have allowed the ball to go back to Larrieu. From the clearance, the ball was fed to Blake on the left and his far post cross was met by Caldwell, who headed into the opposite corner.

Burnley looked good value for their lead…which lasted all of 1 minute and 39 seconds! Argyle hit a high ball into the Burnley box, and a defender dallied in his own area. Barnes slid in and won the ball and the momentum allowed the ball to travel to Judge who was on the left hand side of the box. Judge moved towards goal and hit a low shot, which Jensen could only palm into the bottom corner. It was the little Irishman’s first goal for the club.

For the next 15 minutes Argyle played well and attacked quite frequently. Mackie had a chance, after a good Gallagher pass, but fired wide. Mackie also tried to set up Barnes, for his first goal, after a poor Burnley back pass, but Clark Carlisle made a superb goal-line block to prevent Argyle taking the lead.

The game became a scrappy affair during the middle of the half. On 39 minutes Burnley were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal after an innocuous challenge on Paterson. Blake shot, and the ball was heading into the net (even the Burnley fans were celebrating), before Larrieu dived to his right and tipped the ball around the post. 1 minute into first half injury time, Seip played a poor back pass, on the left hand side of the pitch, which Paterson collected. He laid the ball back to Blake who shot at goal, but the shot was deflected clear.

Burnley looked the better of the sides during the opening exchanges of the second half. 5 minutes in and Sawyer headed clear from the far post, after pressure from Paterson. On 56 minutes Eagles was substituted for Rodriguez, resulting in Blake moving to the left and the substitute playing up front.

For a period the referee started to award Burnley freekicks for minimal challenges, yet allowed Carlisle to wrestle Barnes and Mackie at any opportunity. When Argyle players challenged for the ball in the air, Burnley players would jump at the man, rather than the ball, but the referee allowed play to continue.

Argyle had their first chance of the second half on 66 minutes. Judge attacked down the right and his dangerous cross was acrobatically punched by Jensen. The ball landed at Duguid’s feet, but his low shot was deflected clear. 3 minutes later, Burnley full back Williams was booked for a nasty kick at Duguid.

On 72 minutes, Gallagher played a long, high ball through to Judge, who beat the defence. Judge waited too long for the ball to drop, allowing the Burnley defence to clear. 3 minutes later and Duguid narrow hit a powerful drive wide after good work from Fletcher, Gallagher and Gray.

Burnley scored the winner on 77 minutes. It didn’t look like coming, but came after another defensive error. Jensen kicked long, and Seip poorly headed the ball into the area in front of the 18 yard box and middle of the pitch. Blake collected the ball and struck a powerful shot, which easily beat Larrieu and ended up in his bottom right hand corner.

Sturrock, who up to that point didn’t look like making a change, had to do something. He brought on the ‘dream’ attack force of Fallon and MacLean for Barnes and Mackie. He also substituted Judge for Noone, and played the left winger on the right. Burnley withdrew Blake and brought on Bjarni’s brother Joey Gudjonson. The change did nothing to generate life into Argyle’s play, if anything it made it worse, and Burnley should have scored at least 2 more before the end.

On 80 minutes Cathcart’s clearance hit Rodriguez who was clean through. Larrieu narrowed the angle, and the Burnley striker took the ball too wide. The Argyle defence recovered and Rodriguez fired wide. 5 minutes later and Cathcart missed another clearance, presenting Rodriguez with another clear chance, but he fired wide from 18 yards, with just Larrieu to beat.

Despite having 5 minutes of injury time, Argyle didn’t create much else and were lucky to get the ball into the Burnley half. Burnley kept possession in the corners and won a series of free kicks, throw ins and corners.

Argyle perhaps didn’t deserve to lose on the evidence of the first 77 minutes (after that the defending manual was shredded), but again the Manager’s tactics should be questioned. Argyle had already lost the last 2 games after negative tactics, and could have got more out of the game if the manager had been more adventurous.

Seip had a nightmare, and Cathcart struggled after the second goal went in. Fletcher and Duguid played well in the middle and Judge had another industrious game, but lost the ball a little too easily at times. I would also question why Gallagher (who is our top scorer) was played on the wing instead of his favoured striker position.

At least we won’t lose next Saturday! Roll on Blackpool.