Set-Pieces, Set-Backs

A TOUGH day at Home Park could have been very different against a ruthless Burton Albion side from set-piece situations.

Argyle twice led with goals from Freddie Ladapo and the maskman had a chance to notch again at 2-2, but the Pilgrims ultimately came unstuck with three efforts conceded from dead-ball situations, two for Kyle McFadzean and one for Lucas Akins. 

Manager Derek Adams was naturally disappointed with the concession of avoidable goals and the combination of poor marking in the box and giving away needless fouls, to leave Argyle bottom of Sky Bet League One.

“We started the game very well and got the goal from Freddie, which he has taken very well,” said Derek. “After that, we concede a number of corners and free-kicks, which leads to the goals for them.

“We didn’t defend well from set-pieces, which is not like us. We obviously missed Yann Songo’o from them [set-pieces], who does a very good job but, at 2-2, we had a great opportunity to go on and make it 3-2.

“It goes just past the post and gives them a bit of belief. It was really disappointing to concede the goals we did today because we’re not like that.

“We gave away another silly foul [for Burton's third] and it allows them a free ball in the box. We did [talk about fouls] and we gave away too many in and around the box. We’ve allowed Burton Albion opportunities for crosses into the box, and they have two very good headers of the ball.

“The players have got to do better in one-on-one situations in the box, be closer to your man and head it away. We spoke about it at half-time that they’re very dangerous [from set-pieces].

“If you give any team a free hit at the ball and they’ve got good height in the team, they will give you a problem, but we could have been ahead before they got ahead in the game."