An Argyle side lost 3-2 to Cardiff City on Monday night in the Premier League Cup, and coach Jamie Lowry declared a good learning experience.
The competition is ostensibly an under-21 assignment, but teams are allowed three over-age outfield players, and Argyle opted to use Joe Edwards and Owen Oseni for 45 minutes, as the pair work their way back to fitness.
Oseni scored in the first half, meaning Argyle were 1-0 up at the break. The part went off at half-time, as fellow professional Freddie Issaka was subbed off during the half. This meant that by the end of the game the it was essentially Argyle Under-18s against Cardiff Under-21s.
Therefore, it is largely unsurprising that Cardiff came into the game and went 3-1 up, before Tashall Sandhu scored a late goal for the Pilgrims to make the final scoreline a bit closer.
Lowry, who was supported for the game by first-team assistant manager Damon Lathrope, felt that, despite narrow defeat, it was a worthwhile, educational evening at Home Park.
“In the first half we were winning the game, showed some good bits in possession and really controlled it out of possession as well,” Lowry told Argyle TV.
“It was great having Owen, Freddie and Joe supporting the lads. I think that showed in the first half. Second half we tired a little bit, with them going off, and that experience made it a little bit more difficult for us.
“Overall - really, really pleased. I thought the boys gave everything they could against a really strong, experienced Under-21s Cardiff side.
“That's the positive of these kinds of games, where the [first-team] boys are coming back and getting some minutes. Joe in there talking and supporting them is great and it's probably just as powerful learning from the most experienced pros on the pitch as it is coaches giving support.
“Having Damo in there as well on the sideline, supporting him in training this morning as we went through team shape. In terms of the boys having that experience, it's great. We trained them hard. We walked them through walkthroughs this morning, used the analysis suite, so it was as close to a first-team game as possible. That's the experiences that the boys need to learn to be able to cope with if they want to be playing out in front of 17,000 every Saturday.”
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You can watch Jamie Lowry's reaction, in full, on Argyle TV here.
