Taking Off Macca

ARGYLE attacker Alex MacDonald was replaced in the first half of the game against Burton Albion on Wednesday night by Paris Cowan-Hall...

...and manager Carl Fletcher explained the decision after the game.

“Macca’s had some bad news. His Nan passed away this morning,” said Carl.

“He said he still wanted to play, but I think he mentally wasn’t right, so I took him off. You could see he just wasn’t there, which is understandable.

"I gave him the option and he said he wanted to play, but once the game started you could see he wasn’t fully focused, so I took him off.”

The gaffer had some words for young centre-back Curtis Nelson who admirably dealt with experienced Burton target man Calvin Zola.

“He did well,” said Fletch, “Calvin Zola is a physical presence, six-foot-three and athletic. He causes defenders a lot of problems in this division, but Nelse stuck up to it well. He (Zola) and Billy Kee, who came on, they’re up there as the best strike partnership in the division, I think.

“I thought Nelse did well in the job he had to do.”