Collectively Individual

TAKING stock of a rough week in which his side lost three games and shipped 11 goals, Derek Adams called on his side to all take responsibility.

A 3-0 defeat against Portsmouth saw more poor goals conceded, in the vein of those let in in a 5-1 loss at home to Peterborough seven days earlier, and to a lesser extent in the 302 reverse at Millwall in the Carabao Cup.

Too often Argyle presented Pompey with opportunities, and like Portsmouth’s fellow early pacesetters the Posh, those mistakes were punished.

Ronan Curtis scored twice, with Jamal Lowe’s strike in between, as the Pilgrims’ attempt to get a first win of the Sky Bet League One season failed at the sixth attempt.

“They got their goals through errors from ourselves,” said Derek. “Giving the ball away in the middle of the park does help. That’s where two of the goals came from. We had easy possession of the ball and they get two goals out of it.

“Individually we have to do better. It is about individual responsibility.  If you give the ball away in the middle of the park, you can’t do anything that as a coach. That comes from individual errors.

“You have to have a player that is willing to run back. We didn’t have that; you’ll see it on the video footage. Joe Riley is exposed two on one and if you look at it one of our players doesn’t run back.”

Argyle rallied a little after Portsmouth initially took the lead, finishing the first half well. Adams tried to capitalise on this foothold in the game by bringing on Graham Carey and Ruben Lameiras to offer more attacking presence, but the Greens found little rhythm after the interval.

“We were better in the first half than we were in the second half,” said Derek. “I don’t think the changes helped us. We didn’t create enough opportunities did we? We made the change to try to do it.”

Argyle have no midweek game, and will face Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Ground next Saturday. Rovers have just four points from their opening six games, compared to Argyle’s two from six.

Derek and the boys have a clear week to freshen up for the league season’s shortest away trip, and all focusing is on improving their position.

Derek said: “We’ve had a difficult three games. We have to get better, there’s no question about that, but we will do.”