Cardiff City (H) Hardie's Reaction
Just over 88 minutes into Argyle v Cardiff City at Home Park, with the Pilgrims 3-1 up, Jordan Houghton played a ball into the left-hand channel.
Ryan Hardie chased it, and though it looked like he had been muscled off the ball by Dimitrios Goutas, Hardie reached out a toe and poked the ball to Darko Gyabi. As Hardie got to his feet, Gyabi played the ball into his path, and the Scotsman chased it as it ran towards the goal-line.
The chase resembled an anxiety dream, when you find yourself unable to control your limbs, despite your best efforts. That, or a newborn foal taking its first steps in the world. Unable to reach or cross the ball, an exhausted Hardie collapsed in a bit of a heap.
Now, if you were not at the game, or have not caught up on the full match replay on Argyle TV, you could be forgiven for thinking it somewhat odd that for this article, we have picked out such an esoteric moment to focus on.
To make your confusion greater, what if we told you that the reaction within seconds of the referee pointing for a goal-kick was a sold-out Home Park rising to applaud Argyle’s number nine?
The reason for an ovation such as this was the 88 or so minutes that preceded this move. Hardie had not only scored twice, but produced an all-action display, especially in the second half, that saw him score two goals to turn the game round, with the Greens having been a goal down, and then perfectly lay on a pass for Morgan Whittaker to score the game-clinching third goal.
Some Hardie hard work should maybe have led to a fourth goal, as he closed down a defender, then blocked the goalkeeper’s clearance. Hardie dashed to the touchline to keep the ball in, then played inside to Whittaker, who curled over the bar, when possibly a pass to Gyabi might have been on.
(That being said, with Whittaker having scored a goal which takes him to 16 for the season, shooting from the area’s edge can probably be forgiven.)
This piece of industry from Hardie came just two minutes before the run down the left that we opened our tale with, so one can understand why his lungs might not have been the fullest of air at that point.
In injury-time, Hardie was replaced by Ben Waine, to receive yet another ovation and a rendition of a song containing his name. A third roar greeted the acknowledgement of him being named man-of-the-match as the seconds wore down.
After the game, after being forcibly removed from the Home Park turf he had run himself into, Hardie spoke to Argyle TV.
“At this club, the very minimum that you're expected to give is 100% - I think today I gave 110!” said Hardie, displaying a less-than-perfect grasp on mathematics, but nailing the observation about grafting through a football match. “To get that ovation, it just shows that all the hard work that we put into it was worth it.
“I think the pitch turned into a swimming pool for me at the end! I was crawling on the floor trying to get there. My legs were gone at the end, but I was trying so hard to get that third goal, I probably would have stayed on for anything, but I've put my hand up and said: ‘I’m tired.’
“That's one of the gaffer's non-negotiables. As soon as you're tired, he said he's got no qualms about it, you put your hand up and somebody else will come on to finish the job for you.”
Hardie’s first goal, an equaliser just after the half-hour mark, was an effort inside the area, cleverly steering home a low cross by debutant Alfie Devine. It is a goal that gets better with each watch, when you realise the dexterity and quick-thinking shown to finish into the corner.
The goal put Argyle level, and after the break they powered away. Hardie’s second came seven minutes into the second half, with Whittaker playing provider. Hardie’s first touch was excellent, setting him so he could pivot and strike powerfully into the net in front of the Babcock Devonport End.
On the first goal, Ryan said: “We've worked on it a bit this week, getting the full-backs or number 10s in positions to get the ball in the box. It's just about your movement to get in the middle of the box and get some chances. I've managed to peel off and put it in the far corner.
“For the second, Morgan’s always looking to put that ball in the box. I was thinking of going down because the defender clipped me when I moved it away from him. I got a nice touch and thought ‘I'm six yards out here, hit it as hard as I can and see where it goes’. Luckily it went in the front top corner.”
Argyle’s line-up had two debutants – Devine and Adam Forshaw – as well as two players making their home bows in Gyabi and Ashley Phillips. A fifth January addition, Matty Sorinola, was an unused substitute.
Since Ian Foster took over as Head Coach, the influx of new signings, along with six players departing the club, temporarily or otherwise, has changed the complexion of the squad a little, but being strong and scoring plenty of goals at home is a tradition that thankfully continued against Cardiff.
“The first 45 we settled into it, and the second we came into our element and started to press on a bit and take the game to them,” said Hardie.
“There's been a lot of new signings, a lot of new faces in the building, so it's going to take a bit of time for everyone to gel.
“The new gaffer coming in, he's got his own ideas and it's going to take us a few weeks to get used to it, but we're really enjoying it so far.
“The way we want to play, as you could see today, it's front foot, get after them and keep it tight at the back. It’s been a good learning curve so far and we're looking forward to carrying it out the rest of the year.”
