Argyle look forward to replay! Plymouth 0 Newcastle 0.
Posted on January 2nd, 2010 | 20 Comments |
The FA Cup throws the form book out of the window, and even though Plymouth have improved in recent games, that suited them due to their lowly position. Newcastle, conversely at the summit of the Championship, made several changes to protect the squad from a demanding run-in ahead. And so if anything, with home advantage, you’d have been excused for putting Plymouth as favourites. However, Hughton still fielded a strong team, and but for some good goalkeeping and wayward finishing, we did enough to win this game.
Hughton has made a number of changes from game to game throughout the season, and was always likely to tinker with his team, to protect us for the promotion chase. However, it was still a strong XI, as highly-rated Krul stood between the sticks in replacement of Harper. Simpson switched to left back as Ryan Taylor dropped back into his favoured right back role. Tamas Kadar came into form a central pairing with Coloccini as Steven Taylor made way. In midfield, Butt replaced Nolan as Pancrate filled the gap left by Taylor on the right. Guthrie came in for Gutierrez and Amoebi and Ranger started upfront together, with a strong-looking bench.
The biggest Plymouth crowd of the season, saw only one change from their side which hammered Reading but with a dodgy pitch both teams started scrappily. Newcastle seemingly struggling to gel with the number of new faces thrown in together and Plymouth because it appeared like they lacked belief.
Neither side could create any clear cut chance early on although Argyle just about shaded the first 20 minutes or so, and managed to create the first chances for Judge and Fallon but which were easily dealt with. Gradually, we grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and created a number of half-chances with Pancrate lacking the sharpness or quality in front of goal, to convert.
Ameobi had a goal disallowed for offside, before Coloccini had a decent effort which went wide. Danny Guthrie had the best chances of the half including a stinging effort clawed out of the top corner by Romain Larrieu and the score remained goaless at half-time, despite intense pressure from Newcastle.
The second half didn’t see an improvement in the quality on the pitch, as the surface did it’s best to scupper any chance of seeing any real decent football. And the game became even more scrappy as niggly tackles and challenges resulted in a clash between Ranger and their left back, from which Ranger never regained his composure in a game he struggled to make an impact on.
Plymouth rarely got at the Newcastle back four as the second half wore on and we began to put them under real pressure towards the end, but with the final ball lacking quality we looked destined for the same fate as the Derby County game, where we couldn’t convert possession into goals.
Three changes saw Pancrate replaced by Lovenkrands, Carroll come on for Ranger and Gutierrez replace the injured Alan Smith. Those changes seemed to bring new impetus and we had a number of free kicks and corners but again the quality was lacking at the crucial point. And yet Nicky Butt might have won it, with minutes remaining, as his controlled volley was tipped onto the bar and over by Larrieu.
And so, as the final whistle blew, Plymouth gaffer Paul Mariner faced the prospect of a long journey north for the replay, but was obviously pleased overall with the performance:
“I am pleased that we are still in the competition because it is, in my opinion, the best domestic cup competition there is,”
“A few weeks ago no-one would have backed us at home to the Championship leaders but at the moment it is all about progression for us at this club and that’s now three games unbeaten, which is progress in my books.
“We are still in the competition, in the draw for the fourth round and have a trip to St James’ Park in the cup to look forward to – and that’s what we will be doing.”
With the priority on promotion, a draw was probably the worst result for Newcastle, given that means another game to interrupt the league programme and more risk of injury or fatigue to jeopardise the journey back to the Premiership. But Hughton remained upbeat:
“We are still in the hat, which is what counts, and will be in the fourth-round draw, which is important because it’s a competition that we want to do well in,”
“I felt we were a little bit unlucky and I felt that if there was one side that was going to win the tie it was going to be us.
“There were long periods in the game where we dominated and perhaps just lacked a little bit of guile or fortune in the final third that would have seen us score a goal on a very difficult pitch and overall I thought we were the better side.”
So what did we get out of it? Well more games for the lads who haven’t featured prominantly yet and a notably impressive display from Tamas Kadar. Another game we probably could have done without, particularly with Smudger suffering a suspected cheek injury, though we await the verdict on the damage.
Yet another match that I’ll have to fork wedge out for and convince the better half it’s a good idea to attend. You’ve got to feel sorry for the Plymouth fans though? Not a trip you want to make midweek, be interesting to see if they bring the same numbers as they did for the league game, but of course the gate receipts will be welcomed by Argyle.
As a romantic, I’m with Hughton on that fact we’re still in the hat for tomorrow. The FA Cup tradition is instilled in me and I want us to go as far as possible. Maybe we won’t win it but we can have some fun trying? But this month is key not only for passage into the 4th round of the cup and to get back to winning ways in the league, but for ensuring we get a goalscorer signed. If today’s game didn’t finally highlight that glaring requirement then nothing will, but let’s just hope Llambias and Ashley are convinced! So who fancies Man Utd at home next round then?
Us – Krul, Danny Simpson, Coloccini, Kadar, R Taylor, Pancrate, Butt, Smith, Guthrie, Ameobi, Ranger
Subs – Harper, Enrique, Lovenkrands, Gutierrez, Carroll, Tozer, Donaldson
Plymouth – Larrieu, Barker, Sawyer, Duguid, Fletcher, Clark, Mackie, Arnason, Summerfield, Judge, Fallon
Subs – McNamee, Noone, Barnes, Gow, Saxton, Folly, Mason
Att – 16,451 with 2,400 Mags officially and a spattering amongst the home fans, including some questionable individuals going by the pseudonyms of ‘Whumpie’ and ‘cornish-magpie’.
NUFCBlog Author: bowburnmag
bowburnmag has written 234 articles on this blog.
Noticed Hughton mentioned the lack of guile. Hope it’s sinking in now.
Predictability is seen a mile off….