Clarets halt Pilgrims Progress

Last updated : 01 May 2005 By David Clark
A very fine Claret - Gary Cahill
The win saw Clarets repay Argyle from a similarly tight encounter at Home Park, when earlier this season Argyle beat Clarets with an injury time penalty, but Clarets went one better, James O'Connor adding a second in injury time, allowing Clarets to finish the season off in front of their fans with much deserved applause and causes for celebrations, the probable finish of fourteenth much higher than most (Clarets and pundits alike) predicted in the days of last August with a new manager, desperately small squad and predictions aplenty of a long, hard season.

Ade Akinbiyi had the first of the chances in a below par first half, when under hitting his angled shot that allowed McCormick to parry the ball away. The in swung corner caused the 'keeper problems as did the one that followed on ten minutes, the near post flick on from Branch being cleared from the line, this as close as Clarets came to opening the scoring against a hard working, physical Argyle side content to defend and attack on the counter using the height and power of twin strikers Evans and Chadwick to plunder whatever they could.

Chadwick almost opened the scoring from a Clarets corner and using his power and pace to hold off Cahill, his low shot across Jensen was superbly tipped by the Beast at full stretch and on to the face of the post where Camara cleared the ball to safety. The game at this stage was an open, free flowing affair, with much to enjoy from the midfield contest where honours were very much even, though there was little for either strike force to get their teeth into as both managers elected identical formations, the lack of wide men seeing play largely concentrated through the middle.

Akinbiyi was put through, but lost his footing at the key moment, a rare chance lost. Bowditch, who had an on/off day saw a first time volley dip over, whilst at the other end the impressive Buzsaky saw a first time half volley fizz across the six yard box with no one to hand to tap home.

Argyle's travelling one thousand and Cotterill's pre-match rallying cry to the home fans, lifted the crowd into an atmosphere which was much more prolonged than of late, the singing brought about as much by some entertainment being on view as much as anything else, Sinclair showing a deft touch beat two men and he set up Akinbiyi who was just unable to get his final shot in when trying to create space on the edge of the area. This was the final action of the half where, by and large, the game was played out in the midfield area, both sides cancelling each other out.

HT 0-0.

A fine Claret - James O'Connor
Stirred no doubt by another rallying cry from the manager Clarets began the second half much the better of the two sides and their tempo was much higher in a good opening to the half for the home side.

O'Connor tried his luck form twenty five yards and Bowditch followed suit with a first time shot hitting Coughlan full on in the chest, sparking ambitious penalty claims from the stands.

Camara, who had a great game going forwards, saw a box-to-box run end in a corner as Clarets took the game to their visitors who themselves rallied with Evans shooting well wide from the edge of the area before he was replaced just past the hour mark.

Oster came on for a tiring Bowditch with twenty minutes remaining and the little winger's first action was to put in a cross that clearly hit Coughlan on the hand in the area, though it was not deemed as deliberate by Mr Bates.

Buzsaky saw a long range effort go harmlessly over Jensen's bar before a rare moment of sloppiness from McGreal conceded possession, the return lofted pass giving Chadwick the chance to beat last man Cahill, his shot was though over the angle with Jensen struggling with his positioning.

Argyle improved their game in the latter stages of the game and briefly had a four v one situation countering a Clarets corner, Sinclair very exposed, until an athletic Cahill came back to rescue the situation.

Valois replaced Grant for the last ten minutes, Steve Cotterill looking to stretch play with his two wide men now introduced. Curiously, Branch was booked for having his shirt pulled, before Capaldi came on for Taylor and a ten minute spell that almost saw him end in glory, his flicked header from an in-swung free kick, had goal written all over it, before Jensen somehow acrobatically tipped the ball away for a superb and match winning save as within two minutes Clarets took the lead.

Akinbiyi received a ball down the left, hit to him more in hope than purpose and when advancing into the area Worrell clumsily pulled Akinbiyi to the ground. In the melee that followed the contested penalty decision, the 'keeper used both hands when pushing Akinbiyi to the ground, yet somehow escaped only with a yellow, matching that awarded to Akinbiyi, presumably his for something said to the linesman who failed to give the penalty, before a bout of gamesmanship delayed the taking of the penalty by Valois.

Valois kept his cool and after ignoring McCormick's goal line impersonation of a robotics character as he tried to distract him, the Frenchman coolly slotted the ball low to McCormick's left hand, the goal coming only three minutes from time and sending the crowd wild after all the delays in the taking of the kick.

Into the inevitable three minutes of GM Furniture time and still time for Plymouth to try and find an equaliser. Pressing forwards as they did allowed Branch to intercept a pass in the centre circle and a short pass to O'Connor set the little ginger haired one on a path for goal some sixty yards away.

Clarets were four against two and with options to pass left or right, O'Connor kept the ball, dribbled round the defenders before despatching a low angled drive from fifteen yards across McCormick and into the corner of the net. The goal capped a fine individual display and the qualities of endless running typified Cotterill's season of defying the odds on many occasions.

The goal sparked a mini pitch invasion by local numpties, yet once cleared, Cotterill saw just enough time to replace Cahill with Duff for possibly the shortest ever substitution, the tactic clearly there to allow the youngster to acclaim his status, the resulting standing ovation was very much for a six-month spell of admiration for all those who have watched his remarkable development.

After the final whistle the players were allowed back out to the pitch for a well earned lap of honour, the many fans who stayed applauded the team around and off the pitch, before disappearing down through exit gates in anticipation of a summer with much to savour. Roll on August.

Att:- 12,893.

Sour grapes
Quite a shame that the entertainment of the last five minutes could not have been introduced into the preceding and largely dull eighty five minutes. With Oster and Valois on the field, Clarets had width and a threat when moving forwards that was not possible via the previously compact midfield and long pass options into Akinbiyi.

A fine Claret
Whilst the stadium vote went to Mo Camara, my vote goes to James O'Connor (just in front of Jensen) for a ninety minute display of energy, commitment and faultless passing. Supplemented by a goal coming too late for goal of the season contention, this was a fine display by a player improving in every game since his permanent signing.

A very fine Claret
In this, my final match report for Clarets Mad, I cannot let it pass without acknowledging the performances of and significant contributions from Gary Cahill, without who I'm sure we would not have achieved such a miserly defensive record when viewing the goals against column. Here was another typical performance of defensive supremacy from a youngster destined for great things. Here's hoping he's not a Villain next season and that he is allowed to return as a Claret for another year's development.