Lady Luck Returns

A LITTLE bit of luck. That’s what Argyle have been craving of late, and assistant manager Gary Owers was grateful for it in Argyle’s Dockyard Derby against Portsmouth.

Pompey full-back Yassin Moutaouakil seemed to have Rommy Boco’s 21st-minute cross under control, but inexplicably chested the ball into the path of Conor Hourihane. The Argyle skipper anticipated the situation superbly, and lashed home from ten yards.

Portsmouth would later equalise, but the 8,742 inside Home Park for the first league meeting of the two teams for 21 years saw a decent encounter played out in front of the prying eyes of Sky subscribers nationwide.

“It was a great game for the players to play in; a big crowd and a good atmosphere,” said Argyle assistant manager Gary Owers.

“We’ve been waiting for it to happen for a couple of weeks – that little bit of luck. We should have been a goal up anyway. I thought Nelse had a decent chance and should have put us ahead in the game.

“I thought we played really well, particularly the first 30 minutes until we scored. I thought we were really, really good. We passed the ball, kept the ball and got into good areas.

“Unfortunately, after the equaliser, we lost our way a little bit, but we stuck to it and I thought we put in as consistent a 90 minutes as we have done this season. We’re very disappointed with the equaliser. We’ll have a look at that.

“All the players have put in a lot of effort today.”

Gary gave an insight into the feeling of the squad and the management team in the immediate aftermath of the game. An improved team performance and the freshness of the line-up seems to have contributed to a more positive vibe ahead of a long trip to Hartlepool next week.

However, he warned that the inability to put games to bed is still a concern that must be addressed.

“We’re just not killing teams off when we have the best of the game,” said Gary, “against Accrington the last home game, today, and even at times at Exeter. We’re conscious that we need to try and score when we’ve got the best of the game.

“We’re disappointed that we just couldn’t do enough to get us over the line and win the game. I think [Portsmouth] are happier with the draw than we are.

“There’s definitely a different feel about the dressing-room off the back of a draw.

“We’d like to have won more games. This was a tough game today. The fact that it was on television just put a little bit of edge on it. We’ll try to go to Hartlepool next week and win.”