Argyle 1 Southampton 1

A perfect day – apart from the score.

Argyle’s organisation and PR has in the past come under heavy criticism – not least from me – about the way in which they fail to make the most of their fanbase and generally give the impression of a Conference set-up at a Championship club. Not so today. Every aspect of my daughter’s matchday mascot experience was spot on. Elaine and Gemma, the mascot nannies, were organised, professional, very caring, and above all went out of their way to make sure Tabitha and the other two mascots (including an away mascot) had a wonderful day. She went into the changing-room before the match, met all the players, had her programme and shirt signed, met the referee Uriah Rennie and was invited into the Boardroom where the chairman took time to have a proper conversation with each mascot in turn.

She then had a lengthy kick-about on the pitch during the warm-up, and then led the team out with captain Lilian Nalis.

During the whole time, the club photographer was snapping away and a full set of prints will be available for me to pick up before the next home game. A triumph – and a day to remember.

The game itself was a vast improvement on our previous two League performances. Despite the setback of conceding (AGAIN) in the first fifteen minutes – a route one counter-attack that left Bradley Wright-Phillips to score with embarrassing ease – Argyle dominated more or less from start to finish. New signing Steve Maclean, wearing 9 and partnering Rory Fallon up front, looked every inch a class player. His combination and link-up play in particular was impressive, but he was also tenacious and had it not been for an (undetected) foul on him would surely have scored in the second half. Fallon – who chose this match to make his Christian faith public (he’s being baptised tomorrow) – was a revelation: winning headers, picking out colleagues, generally making a darned nuisance of himself, and it was a special delight when he met Halmosi’s pluperfect cross to volley the Greens level on 49 minutes. Norris – in what many were predicting would be his last appearance for Argyle – was back to his old, terrier-like ways, and was serenaded at regular intervals by the choir in the Devonport end. Timar was the massive, magnificent Magyar and Gary Sawyer calm, collected and clinical in the tackle.

But above all there was Halmosi. At times it was if the ball was tied to his boot: and certainly Ostlund was mesmerised into a state of paralysis as time without number Argyle’s sweet 16 waltzed past him. He must have created half-a-dozen chances on his own this afternoon – and anyone who thinks we don’t need another striker should observe that of those six we only managed to convert the one. Deservedly – surely unanimously – man of the match: he must not, MUST NOT be sold this window.

Down to 11th: but I’m feeling a deal more optimistic than I was, say, 24 hours ago. Apparently there’s to be a statement on the Norris situation in two days time. I’ll let you know what transpires.

Category: Team News

Tags: Team News

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