The Lads and fans made the trek to Devon looking to extend Alex Neil's unbeaten away run, and did just that. However, it was a game very short on chances and we simply didn't make their keeper do nearly enough work. Those watching on TV probably had less fun than those of us who travelled - at least we saw the country.
After an early start - alarm set for 04:05, and the sight of the sunrise over Peterlee - it was as uneventful a twelve county journey (Google it and prove me wrong. Please) as you could imagine. There was still time to sprint from the Brittannia, where Rob had my pint on the table, back to the bus to retrieve my match ticket, and catch up with folks - most of whom had been in Devon since yesterday or Saturday.
Patterson
Winchester Wright Cirkin
Clarke Matete Evans O'Nien
Embleton Broadhead
Stewart
..and Burge, Batth, Hume, Neil, Roberts, Xhemajli, and Gooch on the bench. Enough options to change things should we need to.
The Janners (don't ask)ran out to Led Zeppelin's Kashmir, which was nice, and we were in blue and yellow, kicking off away from our end with Clarke at right wingback and 09 at left wingback.
Oh, and Plymouth had celebrated the appearance of a new stand by installing a drum at the far end. They were telt where to stick it.
Stewart needed treatment on 5 after a challenge as he tried to break down our left, but Plymouth were the side who built an attack, winning a corner on our right which was headed clear by Evans. It took nearly twenty minutes for either side to fashion a real chance, but Patterson was down smartly to his left to smother the shot.
There was a hearts in the mouth moment on 22 when Winch put both hands on an attacker who was going nowhere, but when the ball inevitably ran for a goal kick the ref wasn't giving anything. To be fair, the Plymouth lad didn't appeal either, so perhaps we were being over nervous. Mind you, it would have been a penalty in the Prem, after a good five minute VAR review.
Clarke produced a good run over halfway on 27 minutes, and knocked it wide to Embo who cut in from the right but scooped his left-footed shot way. Bah.
There was some good, sound, defending with a brave headed block by Wright that deflected a booming shot past Patto's right-hand post, followed by Stewart eventually clearing the loose ball following the corner.
Wright produced a good old-fashioned dunsh out on our left on 35 which surprised his opponent and drew a good round of appreciative applause from our end that drowned out the moans from the Home fans.
A great ball from Embo to Stewart looked to have set up a goal, but their keeper was out sharpish to get down at LNDs feet and block our man before a shot was for away. Damn.
We won a corner on our left which Embo swung in, but there was a foul in the box. Plymouth built an attack from the dead ball, but another confident take by Patto calmed things down.
There was another Plymouth corner after Embo's shot was saved and they broke quickly. Broadhead worked some decent space on the left, but his pass was too heavy and the home defence mopped up.
Somehow, despite the medics having been on, there was only a single added minute, which allowed nowt for either side
No changes for the second half, despite us wondering about the wisdom of persisting with a clearly uncomfortable Clarke in that position.
A great ball into the box was taken off Embo's toes and hacked away as we began the second period with a bit more determination to get forward. We followed this with a great left wing break which produced a shot that was blocked, but Evans scuffed follow up.
Cirkin got a yellow on 57 following a cleared corner, then Clarke went left and 09 went right, much to the relief of the former and most of our fans.
An Embo cross from the right saw Broadhead's shirt held in the box but nowt was given, and our first change came soon after when Luke went off and Gooch came on with 77 minutes played.
As we continued in our more positive vein, Stewart won a cross and turned to blast it just wide, then Embo was replaced by Roberts. There were a few sort of scares when Plymouth broke forward, but it was either the muscular presence of Wright or the confident dominance of the box by Patto that mopped things up.
Matete was off for Neil with less than ten to go, but despite young Dan's intelligent probing, he couldn't quite find the killer pass.
There was a late yellow for Evans as he took one for the team to end a Plymouth break in halfway, four added minutes were announced, and we in the away end tried our best to make Sky TV's presence worthwhile with a bit of noise.
It might have sounded canny, but it didn't inspire the Lads to the customary late winner.
All in all, the right result but not the one we wanted.
Man of the Match? Patto was dominant, Wright was physically immovable, Evans did what we brought him in to do, and I thought Matete and Embo were both very unfortunate to be sacrificed bin favour of changing things.
Overall, I think Embleton, as he had more shots than anyone else and at least forced a save from the home keeper.
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