Scunthorpe United v Plymouth Argyle

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Football League Championship

Scunthorpe United :
Murphy, Williams, Mirfin, Raynes, A.Wright, Togwell, Sparrow, McCann, Thompson, Woolford, Hayes (Forte 85).
Subs not used:
Lillis, Milne, Jones, O'Connor, McDermott, Godden.

Plymouth Argyle :
Stockdale, Rede Johnson, Eckersley (Barker 21), Duguid, Fletcher, Clark (Mason 66), Johnson, Kari Arnason, Bolasie, Mackie, Wright-Phillips (Fallon 76).
Subs not used:
Larrieu, Ngala, Summerfield, Judge.

SULSESC REPORT

by Plymouth Herald at Glanford Park

ARGYLE'S chances of escaping relegation from the Championship suffered a crushing blow.

Despite taking the lead, the 23rd-placed Pilgrims slipped to defeat against the team one position above them in the table.

They are now six points from safety with nine more matches remaining this season.

Hopes were high that Argyle's last-gasp 3-2 victory over Bristol City at Home Park last Tuesday could have been used as a springboard to further success.

Instead, Scunthorpe capitalised on the defensive frailties which have haunted the Pilgrims all season.

In doing so, the Iron eased their own relegation fears, moving out of the bottom three with their come-from-behind victory.

It was a hugely frustrating afternoon for Argyle because, in spells, they produced some fine attacking football.

The pace of strikers Jamie Mackie and Bradley Wright-Phillips, as well as that of exciting winger Yannick Bolasie, was a constant threat to Scunthorpe.

Yet, they still ended up being beaten in a match they could not afford to lose.

Repeated defensive reshuffles this season because of injuries have done the Pilgrims no favours at all.

But, all too often, basic lapses of concentration have proved very costly.

That was evident again on Saturday as, having taken the lead, Argyle were soon pegged back by the home side.

Scunthorpe took a quick free-kick and, only moments later, the ball was in the Pilgrims' net.

No-one would dispute that Argyle have shown admirable fighting spirit, in adversity, under the leadership of head coach Paul Mariner.

But only three clean sheets and 21 defeats in 37 league games speaks volumes.

It had all started with such promise at rainswept Glanford Park as the Pilgrims, with a strong wind behind them, had a lot of early possession.

Mackie had a stabbed, close-range shot saved by Scunthorpe's Joe Murphy after only 65 seconds.

The Iron showed the resilience of their nickname, however, and almost took the lead in the seventh minute.

Midfielder Martyn Woolford cut inside, after the ball had been prodded across to him by Scunthorpe captain Sam Togwell.

He then unleashed a fierce shot which was superbly saved by Argyle's David Stockdale.

That was the start of a busy afternoon for the on-loan Fulham goalkeeper, who put in a magnificent performance.

Woolford's one chance apart, the Pilgrims were the better team in the early exchanges, but they suffered a setback in the 21st minute.

Richard Eckersley, who had been recalled at left-back after a one-match absence because of a groin strain, had to be substituted.

The on-loan Burnley defender took a blow to an ankle when he was fouled by Scunthorpe midfielder Matt Sparrow in the opening minutes.

Sparrow was fortunate not to be booked by referee Anthony Taylor, who must have thought it was too early in the match to produce a yellow card.

Eckersley resumed playing after treatment on the sidelines from physio Paul Atkinson.

But he took another blow to the same ankle later on, and was replaced at left-back by Chris Barker.

Stockdale made two fine, diving saves to keep out long-distance shots from Grant McCann before Argyle took the lead.

The goal came in the 28th minute and was the result of some superb interplay between Wright-Phillips and Bolasie.

Wright-Phillips won a 50-50 ball against Sparrow and played it outside to Bolasie.

The pair then swapped passes and Bolasie sped past Scunthorpe right-back Anthony Wright and raced into the penalty area.

He then showed good composure as he picked out Mackie with a precise cross.

Argyle's top scorer found space between two defenders and tapped the ball into the net from inside the six-yard area.

Even at that early stage, Argyle seemed set for a crucial win.

But Scunthorpe had other ideas as they drew level four minutes later with a goal from striker Garry Thompson.

Argyle clearly expected Wright to aim a free-kick from almost on the halfway line into their 18-yard box.

Instead, he played the ball into the inside right channel, and striker Paul Hayes peeled off to collect it.

Hayes then drove across and Thompson slid in to score, just getting there before Argyle captain Carl Fletcher could.

Thompson had a chance to score again in the 42nd minute, when he raced clear as Argyle waited for an offside flag which never came.

However, Stockdale came to the rescue with an excellent sprawling save.

The Pilgrims then had two good opportunities to restore their lead before the break, as Murphy saved from both Bolasie and Wright-Phillips.

Argyle had used the weather conditions to get the ball forward early to their pacy attackers in the first half.

But they found that harder to do after the interval, as the ball repeatedly held up in the wind, although Bolasie continued to trouble the Iron defence.

Scunthorpe started to spend a lot of time in Argyle territory, but the visitors still had a couple of decent opportunities.

Wright-Phillips sent a rising 20-yard shot over the crossbar, before midfielder Chris Clark went close in the 61st minute.

Clark was picked out by a free-kick to the far post from Damien Johnson and he saw his volley smartly saved by Murphy.

Scunthorpe then grabbed their second goal four minutes later after a swift counter attack.

McCann sprayed a pass out to the right-side which Woolford did well to control, and he then cut inside.

His left-foot shot struck Barker, which deflected it past a stranded Stockdale and into the net.

Stockdale then saved from Woolford and Hayes as Scunthorpe went in search of a third goal.

Argyle's cause was not aided by the recurrence of a hip injury for centre-back Kari Arnason.

He could not be taken off, however, because the Pilgrims had used their three permitted substitutes.

So Arnason was moved into central midfield, and Argyle went with three at the back, as they strove for an equaliser.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added on by the referee and, near the end of it, there was a tremendous chance for Bolasie.

The 20-year-old had put in another eye-catching performance with his pace and power on the ball.

But, in a scramble following a long throw-in from Arnason, he completely miscued a shot from close range and, with that, went Argyle's last chance.