The Whole Twelve Yards

DEREK Adams and his Argyle team have risen to top spot in the Sky Bet League 2 table - but there is one spot they seem unable to locate.

It has nearly been nine months since Argyle were awarded a penalty. Surprisingly, the Pilgrims have not been awarded a spot-kick at all this season, with Dagenham the only other League 2 team to suffer the same barren spell.

Argyle's last penalty was scored by Reuben Reid on April 25, as the Greens went on to record a 3-2 victory over Tranmere Rovers in the penultimate league game of last season to relegate Rovers. 

Despite several claims for penalties this season, Derek's men are yet to be awarded the chance to score from twelve yards, although his team have more than made up for their misfortune by playing their way to top of the table.

"The referee and their assistants have not seen the penalty incidents," said Derek. "I think that is probably the case and nothing more than that. But we have had a great number of opportunities that we probably should have had penalty kicks, we have seen them on the video. 

"We have had information relaid from the referee's assessors, to say that we should have had two penalties when we have put our reports in. We have only put two reports in and it was two out of two.

"It doesn't help us. The Bristol Rovers game we were told we should have had a penalty for the Brunt incident and then we were told that the penalty that was given to Bristol Rovers was not a penalty."

Argyle drew that game against Bristol Rovers, with Ellis Harrison scoring a penalty for the Pirates in the 90th minute.

"You look at it and you look at [Josh] Windass at Accrington and he's scored six penalties this season, of his 11 goals. It gives that team six goals already this season. We have been in positions where we feel we have good shouts for penalty kicks and that can change the game."