Scathing Skipper

ARGYLE skipper Darren Purse verdict of his team’s performance in their 2-1 home defeat by AFC Wimbledon could not have been more unequivocal.

“It wasn't good enough,” he said.

“We were just nowhere near what we have been in recent weeks.”

Rashid Yussuff’s injury-time goal condemned the Pilgrims to a fourth successive Home Park game without a win, after Rhys Griffiths’ late goal – a follow-up to his own saved penalty – had apparently rescued a point.

“We didn't start the game well enough in the first half,” said Pursey, 35.

“We went a bit long-ball in the second half to try to get back into it – three big lads up front – and it paid off. We got the penalty.

“Whether or not we deserved to get a draw out of the game or not, they got that little bit of luck at the end, which sometimes you need and which was on their side.”

Asked why the Pilgrims had underperformed, the skipper was perplexed.

“We were very poor before, in the warm-up,” he said. “Very quiet. We weren't our usual jovial selves. I don't know if you could sense something. It's easy to say it afterwards.

“It's hard to put your finger on why things happen. [Wimbledon] looked like a side that were really up for the game, probably up for it more than us.

"That's the hardest thing to take. It's different if someone passes you off the park and were fantastic, like Port Vale were.

“You can't say that. It's hard.”

Darren enjoyed a rare outing in tandem with teenager Curtis Nelson as French defender Maxime was ruled out after suffering concussion,

“We’ve had a good rapport since we've played together for the last year, and it's very rare that one of us has missed a game.

“It was weird, but Nelse is a good enough player to fill in for him.”