THE DAILY DIARY

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Sunday 25th February 2024

Argyle's Head Coach Ian Foster was naturally delighted with the Greens 2-0 victory against Middlesbrough at the Riverside - only their second away win of the season. A first goal for Matty Sorinola and a solo effort from Ryan Hardie - both created by Darko Gyabi - reflected a dominant first half from the Pilgrims.

The win came off the back of two goalless consecutive home defeats. The contrast was stark, with Argyle not only winning and controlling the game, but creating numerous chances, especially in the first 45 minutes.

"I thought we were excellent," Foster said. "I thought it was a perfect away performance. My only criticism of the players at half-time was that we weren't ruthless enough.

"We created umpteen chances in the first half; I don't think [Middlesbrough] had a shot on target. We're really pleased. It shows the players and everybody else what we're capable of.

"I was quite critical at half-time for not finishing them off, really. I thought we could have put the game to bed in the first 45 minutes. We were that good.

"The second half performance: the tactical discipline, the ability to hit teams on the break, the ability to be a goal threat and limit the opposition to no shots on target.

"It's probably the most complete performance since I've been here."

Foster spoke of the mentality within the group of players, in responding so quickly to a setback, but also promised that no-one would be getting carried away.

"The most important thing is that we stick together, so we don't get too excited when we win and we don't get too disappointed when we lose.

"The games have come thick and fast. We know it's a massive game for us next weekend, but for now it's rest, it's recuperation, it's implementing our recovery strategies and then we'll go again."

Foster once again paid tribute to the 1,000 or so travelling Green Army, many of whom had set off in the wee small hours of Saturday morning.

"They've been brilliant, whether it's been Sunderland, Huddersfield, Leeds or here, they get on the bus, they travel and they get behind us. They recognise moments in the game where we need them and - thank goodness - we've given them some to sing and shout about."

24th

Argyle responded to the rare disappointment of successive home defeats by delivering a 2-0 win with a supreme away performance at the other end of the country. A trip to Middlesbrough is never easy, from south-west to north-east, but the travelling Green Army were rewarded with a fantastic Pilgrim performance on the road. Matty Sorinola and Ryan Hardie notched the decisive strikes in a rampant opening half-hour, and the Greens could have scored a lot more before comfortably seeing out three very impressive points.

Argyle: Hazard, Houghton, Pleguezuelo (Phillips), Hardie (Waine), Whittaker (Devine), Miller, Gibson, Gyabi (Mumba), Randell, Galloway, Sorinola (Edwards). Substitutes (not used): Cooper, Sousa, Wright, Bundu.

Argyle's Under-18s staged a dramatic, last-gasp comeback from 4-1 down against Swindon Town to draw 4-4 and clinch the South West division of the Youth Alliance League title at Millennium Fields.

The Greens went into the game knowing a win or a draw would be enough to top the division. Lose, though, and it was opponents Swindon who would pip them to the title.

Goals from Freddie Issaka and Joel Sullivan and two penalties from Caleb Roberts - the second in additional time at the end of the game - stunned the visitors and ensured that Argyle finished as champions.

Argyle now look to the upcoming Merit League which provides another chance for the young Greens to win another trophy.

21st

Head Coach Ian Foster took the 3-0 defeat by West Bromwich Albion and its circumstances, on the chin, saying: "It's a really difficult night for us. We're obviously disappointed with the result.

"The second half looked like a really lethargic and tired performance. I get it and I understand why it was that."

The loss was the third against top-flight opposition in seven days, following the two defeats by Leeds in both Cup and League and those games had clearly taken their toll.

"I can't criticise the players; I take responsibility," Foster said. "The players have done everything we've asked of them. It was just a really honest - but tired - performance.

"You could just see the way we played second half, too many negative passes, too many backward passes, setting the pressure on ourselves, and it made it difficult for us.

"We have to credit the opposition for their defensive shape and structure. We found it difficult at times to get through it."

Foster insisted that it was important to reflect, review and recover. "The big thing for us is togetherness," he said. "As a group of players and staff, we have to stick together, we have to look after one another... because they'll be hurting after that. They care. We all do."

20th

A powerful second-half display was enough for West Bromwich Albion to take maximum points with a 3-0 win at Home Park. The Greens matched their visitors throughout the first period but without really stretching the Baggies at the back, and the pattern swung fully in favour of West Brom after the break. Cedric Kipre grabbed a crucial opener from close-range after a corner fizzed across the danger area and the Pilgrims had to accept defeat when Mickey Johnston doubled the lead with a sublime curling strike into the roof of the net. Tom Fellows added a late third to underline the victory.

Argyle: Hazard, Mumba (Sorinola), Sousa (Miller), Hardie, Whittaker, Devine (Houghton), Gibson, Gyabi (Edwards), Randell (Bundu), Galloway, Phillips. Substitutes: Burton, Pleguezuelo, Waine, Issaka.

18th

For Ian Foster, the disappointment of Argyle losing at home in the Sky Bet Championship for the first time in over four months was tempered by the fact that the Greens ran a very good Leeds United side very close.

"It was a really good game; a really tense and tight game of football," said Foster "I thought we started slowly, we potentially gave them a little bit more respect than we ought to have. We were quite passive at times, particularly out of possession, which gave them a foothold in the game.

"We're disappointed with the manner of the first goal, but it was the only shot on target in the first half, so we know that we've limited a really good team to very few chances.

"In the second half, I thought we were outstanding. From first to last whistle in the second half, we played how we wanted to play. We got up to Leeds, made it very difficult, showed a lot of control and patience in possession and created opportunities, which was really pleasing.

"We respect that they're an unbelievable team, but we stayed in the game. I thought we were always in it. We're always mindful of the threat they pose, but I thought we were terrific.

"Sometimes you've got to give the crowd a little bit to shout about. I thought our second half performance did that.

"We're disappointed, of course, because we've come away with zero points, and that's the name of the game; you've got to get points on the board."

Argyle Women advanced into the final of the A&S Interiors Devon Women's Premier Cup following a dominant display against Torquay United at Coach Road. Goals from Ellie Sara (within five minutes), Fern Orchard, Mia Endacott and Jemma Rose gave the Greens a comfortable 4-0 win and confirmed another final against Exeter City to take place in mid-April.

17th

Argyle lost 2-0 to Leeds United and were undone by two predatory contributions, either side of half-time, against a team striving to make a swift return to the Premier League. The Greens fell behind to a Wilfried Gnonto stabbed effort on just 10 minutes but quickly recovered to more than match their lofty visitors in the first half. It was all Argyle immediately after the restart, as Leeds retreated into a defensive shell, but they broke the shackles, and Pilgrim hearts, with a decisive second from Georginio Rutter to seal the points.

Argyle: Hazard, Houghton (Bundu), Pleguezuelo, Whittaker, Miller (Sousa), Devine, Gibson (Galloway), Randell, Waine (Hardie), Phillips, Sorinola (Mumba). Substitutes (not used): Burton, Scarr, Edwards, Issaka.

16th

Argyle Head Coach Ian Foster and members of the first-team squad recently surprised Argyle Pride participants at a training session to mark the launch of the EFL and PUMA's new Rainbow match ball.

The ball, which will be used by all 72 Clubs across Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two matches from 16-24 February, has been launched to mark LGBTQ+ History Month.

The PUMA ORBITA Rainbow Ball design includes the rainbow and progress colours, symbolising that football is for everyone and representing the League's active support for inclusion throughout the game.

For every goal scored with the Rainbow Ball across the Championship, League One and League Two, PUMA will make a donation to an LGBTQ+ Fans for Diversity Fund. The money raised will be used to support LGBTQ+ supporters and their projects which may include initiatives to raise awareness about inclusion in football, events promoting diversity, or providing resources for LGBTQ+ fans within the football community.

Argyle Pride is a team and programme run by the Argyle Community Trust supporting the LGBTQ+ community with the sessions offering fun, friendly, small-sided football sessions for all abilities. Sessions are open to those who identify as LGBTQ+ or are an ally of the community.

Head Coach, Ian Foster said: "What Argyle Pride are doing as well as campaigns like the EFL Rainbow ball are brilliant for LGBTQ+ community and can hopefully show people around the country how important initiatives like this are.

"The game of football is for everybody. We're one football club and one Argyle, from myself, to the players, through to the staff and fans and community."

15th

Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster, reflected ruefully on Coventry's 96th-minute equaliser last night which cost the Greens two points after a hard-fought game.

"Of course, we're disappointed in the manner in which we've drawn the game, but in terms of the overall performance, I'm proud of them," he said.

"I don't want to reflect on one moment of the game where we've defended poorly," said Foster. "Across the 97 minutes of the game, we've done incredibly well.

"[Coventry] have got so much quality. I think they'll be a team that'll be in the top six at the end of the season; I'd be very surprised if they're not. We've taken them to a hair's breadth of getting three points.

"I thought we defended resolutely. 'They're always going to cause you problems because they've got so many good players, but I thought we limited them to very few opportunities.

"I thought we carried a big threat going the other way as well.

"The boys did everything I asked of them in the second half. I asked the players to be brave in possession. We train in a certain way, and we want them to reflect what we do on the on the training pitch in the games. In order to do that, they've got to be brave.

"They're talented enough; they're technically good enough; they've got the tactical understanding. We just need that bravery, that courage to get on the ball in tight areas when you're under pressure and find a way of getting out.

"I'm sure when we look back and we review the game, we'll probably be even more desperately disappointed that we haven't got all three points.

"Credit to the players, they deserved all three, but you don't always get what you deserve in football, unfortunately."

14th

Argyle and Coventry City played out a 2-2 draw, condensing most of the scoring action into a frantic 13-minute spell early in the second half at another rammed Home Park, and the Greens came painfully close to emerging as victors from this swift exchange of goals. There was little between the sides in the opening 45 minutes but it all changed when leading scorer Morgan Whittaker swept the Pilgrims in front after the restart. Ellis Simms levelled with a scruffy rebound effort on 66 minutes but Argyle immediately piled up the other end and a cross from Mickel Miller took a wicked deflection as it flew into a jubilant home net. Victory was seconds away when a freak goal, the ball ricocheting off a group of players before creeping over the line, handed Coventry a share of the spoils and a cruel conclusion for the Greens.

Argyle: Hazard, Sousa (Miller), Hardie (Waine), Whittaker (Houghton), Devine, Gibson, Gyabi, Randell, Galloway, Phillips (Pleguezuelo), Sorinola (Mumba). Substitutes (not used): Burton, Scarr, Edwards, Issaka.

13th

Argyle's Under 18s beat Cheltenham Town 2-0 in their penultimate fixture in the Youth Alliance League, with goals from Tegan Finn coming within ten minutes of the start, and from Josh Bernard early in the second half. The vital three points mean that Argyle stay top of the league. There was a chance that the Greens could have won the title then and there, but second-place Swindon Town beat Bristol Rovers 4-3 to keep them in with a chance. Swindon are five points behind Argyle, and they have two games left. Argyle's final game is against Swindon: avoiding defeat would clinch the title for the young Greens.

12th

Congratulations to midfielder, Jordan Houghton, and his partner on the birth of their second daughter.

11th

For 45 minutes at the Stadium of Light yesterday, Argyle's longest trip of the season looked set to be one of the happiest. A beautifully taken goal by Ryan Hardie towards the end of the first period meant the Greens led Sunderland 1-0 at half time.

However, after the interval, the home side turned the tide with three goals from Pierre Ekwah, Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham giving the hosts the advantage: 3-1 at the final whistle.

"It was an outstanding first half; I thought we were excellent. I thought we showed bravery in possession. I thought it was a really effective and disciplined away performance," said Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster. However, he admitted that the manner of the goals conceded in the second 45 was more disappointing

"The set play is a disappointing one because the players haven't done what we've asked them to do in those moments. For the second one, we're disappointed that the referee hasn't allowed Adam Forshaw to come back onto the pitch.

"Overall, I'm proud of the group in terms of their efforts and their application. We just need to get better in individual moments, because big teams and big players will punish you.

"There's plenty of things for us to look at, in terms of the positives in the game, and loads for us to build on. We have to learn from the mistakes that ultimately cost us."

Argyle Women failed to recover from a first-half, four-goal deficit against Rugby Borough at Coach Road. After the break, Ellie Sara and Imy Crawford scored for a much-improved Argyle, but it was too late to salvage the match.

"I'm a little bit disappointed with the first 45 minutes," said manager Ryan Perks. "With the ball, we actually did some okay stuff but again it's individual errors that have stopped us getting something from the game today.

"In the second half, I thought we were superb. We spoke about being brave, being confident, getting on the ball and playing football which is what we did. We played some lovely football and scored some good goals and could've probably had more given some of the chances we created but ultimately, it's the first-half errors that have cost us today."

The Greens now have a break from league action as they return to Coach Road next Sunday to take on Torquay United in the Devon County Cup semi-final.

10th

A second-half surge from Sunderland condemned Argyle to a 3-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light. The Greens were excellent in the first period, creating the better early chances and snatching the lead with a Ryan Hardie goal six minutes before the interval. Momentum switched the full 180 after the break, Pierre Ekwah levelling from a free-kick and the impressive Jack Clarke edged the Black Cats in front on the hour. Substitute Jobe Bellingham made it three goals in 15 minutes and all three points for the hosts.

Argyle: Hazard, Mumba (Sorinola), Hardie, Whittaker, Miller (Sousa), Devine (Waine), Gibson, Gyabi, Galloway, Phillips (Pleguezuelo), Forshaw (Randell). Substitutes (not used): Burton, Scarr, Edwards, Issaka.

9th

Morgan Whittaker has been named EFL Championship player of the month for January. He beat Leeds winger Dan James, Stuart Armstrong of Southampton and Watford goalkeeper Ben Hamer to the award.

Morgan played in all five of Argyle's games that month, scoring against Watford, Sutton, Huddersfield and Cardiff.

After only a month in charge at Home Park, Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster, was nominated for Championship manager of the month. The award went to Daniel Faroe of Leeds.

8th

For the second FA Cup tie in a row against Leeds United, Argyle drew 1-1 with their fellow Sky Bet Championship side in 90 minutes – however, this time, the Yorkshire side made extra time count, scoring three more, courtesy of the range of quality substitutes they were able to bring on in extra time.

Argyle were without nine first-team players--either because they were ineligible, injured or absent for personal reasons . Of their six substitutes, three were from the under-18 squad. And the game was played in atrocious conditions,, with driving wind and rain leaving both pitch and players sodden.

Argyle Head Coach, Ian Foster, was realistic in his reflections after the match: He said: "I feel for the players for the scoreline; I think it's a tad unfair on us. We're obviously desperately disappointed with the result because we wanted to stay in the competition as long as we could.

"You play against top opposition, and they can be quite devastating at times. It's a little bit sobering for us but we learn from it. We have to review the game properly and make sure we don't make those same mistakes again.

"When you play top quality teams they can make like-for-like changes or, in Leeds' case, respectively, probably better than what they had on the pitch. We knew the issues we had going into the game, there's not a great deal we can do about any of that.

"The guys are full of character, and showed a great togetherness, even when we went behind. I was pleased; I thought we deserved to get back in the game at the time we did.

"We posed a threat to Leeds, particularly for the first 105 minutes, I thought we were excellent. We'll take the positives out of the game, and use it in the games to come."

6th

Extra-time proved the undoing of Argyle in a 4-1 home defeat to Leeds United in the FA Cup replay at Home Park. A fascinating game offered few chances until Wilfried Gnonto guided the visitors into a second-half lead but the Greens fought back with a set-piece goal from Brendan Galloway. The additional 30 minutes arrived in sodden conditions and Leeds marched on with goals from Crysencio Summerville, Georginio Rutter and Ilia Gruev.

Argyle: Hazard, Mumba, Edwards (Waine), Hardie, Whittaker, Wright (Issaka), Gibson, Randell, Galloway (Scarr), Phillips (Matthews), Sorinola (Roberts). Substitutes (not used): Burton.

4th

A number of firsts were ticked off in Argyle's victory at Swansea City yesterday afternoon. It was the Greens' first goal from a corner, their first away win of the season and the first in the Championship for 5,054 days (the last was in their previous stay in that league in 2010). Also remarkable was captain, Morgan Whittaker's strike against his former team which came from the well-worked corner move.

Head Coach, Ian Foster, pronounced himself delighted with the result and to have removed the monkey from the team's back. "Today's performance and result is really pleasing. To come here, get a clean sheet, win the game and score from a set play--another first for us--I'm so proud of the players. They've been terrific.

"Credit goes to Kevin, [Nancekivell] and to the boys for taking on the information and then implementing it under pressure. We're really pleased that it's come off.

"The difficulty is we've got is that we score at the rate of a promoted team and we concede at the rate of a relegated team - so that needs addressing. Away from home, we have to play from a structure, we have to press from a shape, and we have to be really compact and well disciplined.

"We want to be creative. We want to find a way - and today we found it. The timing of the movements, the sets, the pass and Morgan's finish was outstanding. It's another one that we've ticked off, but the important thing is we've come here, we've kept the clean sheets, we've scored a set-play goal and we've won the game - but it's just the beginning.

"We've got to do it again and again and again. That's the test and the challenge for us."

An inspired hat-trick from Ellie Sara gave the Argyle Women an important 4-3 victory over Milton Keynes Dons at Stadium MK in the Women's National League on Sunday afternoon..

The Dons went ahead twice but goals from Sara and Jade Berrow sealed the win, despite a late goal from the Dons. Argyle are now in seventh place in the division, 11 points off the final relegation spot.

3rd

Morgan Whittaker returned to familiar territory to score the only goal in a classic away performance from Argyle and the long wait for a victory on the road is over. Whittaker struck the winner on 18 minutes, as the Greens played with superb efficiency and belief in a first half that left the Swans scrabbling to find an answer to their attacking conundrum. The Pilgrims remained steadfast after the break, despite a late onslaught, and secured three massive points to perfectly set up a busy February of league and cup commitments.

Argyle: Hazard, Mumba (Sorinola), Hardie (Waine), Whittaker (Pleguezuelo), Miller (Sousa), Devine (Randell), Gibson, Gyabi, Galloway, Phillips, Forshaw. Substitutes (not used): Burton, Wright, Roberts, Issaka.

Morgan Whittaker is now joint top scorer in the Championship. His goal against Swansea brought his tally for the season so far to 16, the same number as Sammy Szmodics of Blackburn Rovers.

Argyle's Under-18s shared a goalless draw with Oxford United in the Youth Alliance League on Saturday morning.

Jamie Lowry's side were disappointed not to take all three points but will now turn their to next weeks top-of-the-table clash with Swindon Town, ith both teams fighting it out to be crowned champions of the Youth Alliance League.

1st

The final day of the January transfer window was a busy one involving Argyle and ex-Argyle players. Argyle made a significant signing, with the capture of England Under-19 left back, Lino Sousa. Sousa was loaned to Argyle for the rest of the season, having just been signed by Aston Villa from Arsenal.

On the outgoing front, Saxon Earley, still recovering from injury, was loaned out to Wycombe Wanderers, joining Matt Butcher who had signed for them earlier in the week. Then, at the last moment, former Argyle loan defender, Nigel Lonwijk, was loaned out to Wycombe by his parent club, Wolves. And former striker, Niall Ennis, who had joined Blackburn at the start of the season, was sold to Steven Schumacher's Stoke.

Most importantly, for Argyle fans, was that, despite much speculation involving Premier League sides and Italian Serie A outfit, Lazio, Morgan Whittaker remains at Home Park.

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