A Stodgy Point
DEREK Adams declared himself satisfied with a well-earned point at the Northern Commercials Stadium after Argyle slugged out only their second 0-0 draw of the season.
The two sides shared six goals at Home Park in the earlier Sky Bet League One fixture just over two months ago, but drew a blank in the archetypal game of two halves.
The Pilgrims had the better of a first half in which Graham Carey’s shot clattered a post, but Bradford put Argyle under some pressure after the break and hit the woodwork themselves through David Ball.
Goalkeeper Kyle Letheren also made a succession of saves before, right at the death, defender Niall Canavan made a goal-saving block from Ball.
“If you had offered me a point before the game, I'd have taken it,” said the Argyle boss, as the 15th-placed Pilgrims maintained a five-point lead over Bradford City and two other teams – Oxford United and Shrewsbury Town – in the relegation zone.
“It's a very good point for us. I think we had the better of it in the first half, and Bradford had the better of the second half.
“It keeps the points difference between ourselves and Bradford the same, and it also allows us to keep our position in the league. It's been a good day.”
Argyle’s potential match-winners were hampered by a pitch which mitigated against the Pilgrims’ preferred slick passing game.
“The surface was a real sticking point,” said Derek. “Flair players – and most of the players on the pitch – found it difficult to pass the ball.
“That was probably the way the game was: it was very scrappy. The ball was getting knocked back and forth a good number of times. You don't see good play on a surface like that.
“It wasn't a day for a [Ruben] Lameiras or a [Graham] Carey.”