Facing Up

PETER Hartley faced up and fessed up after Argyle tumbled out of the FA Cup following a 3-0 second-round defeat at Sheffield United.

The normally uber-reliable centre-back was involved in the build-up to the Blades’ first two goals, second-half penalties from Jose Baxter after Argyle’s leading scorer Reuben Reid had fired the game’s first spot-kick over the crossbar.

The first penalty came after an error from Peter let in Sheffield substitute Marc McNulty to draw a foul from Ben Purrington; the second was awarded after Jamie Murphy was fouled by Peter as the United man broke between Argyle’s two centre-backs, with Curtis Nelson being wrongly booked.

Peter said: “I’ve made a little bad decision for their [first] penalty – I should have cleared [the ball] first time and I’ve taken a touch. It’s one of those things – I’ve made a personal bad decision and Ben’s bought the boy down.

“For the second, the midfield runner came through; I came across with my striker; there was a gap between me and Nelse; the guy’s run from midfield and I’ve come across him and got my arm across him; and Nelse has sandwiched him. To be fair, it should have been my yellow card.

“We’ve had a few chances today; everybody could have done better. If we’d all given five per cent more, it could have been a different score. But that’s football – you don’t come on to the pitch intending to make these mistakes; they develop as the game progresses.

“I know I’ve made a mistake and I’m man enough to take it on the chin – I’m that type of person – and I know it won’t happen again. I’ll go in next week and do everything I need to do to make sure we get the three points against Northampton.

“That’s the way it is.”