Argyle’s losing run was extended to four games as the Pilgrims lost 1-0 to Leyton Orient at Home Park.
A solitary goal, scored by Josh Koroma, for the visitors was enough to win the game, with Argyle feeling the familiar pattern of a decent start on which they failed to capitalise, followed by their opposition growing in confidence and, ultimately, winning the game.
Tom Cleverley promised – and delivered – changes to the team. Most notable was probably Alex Mitchell - signed on Monday, debut on Tuesday – in the heart of Argyle’s defence, partnering Brendan Galloway, who returned to the side as captain. To their left, Ayman Benarous made his first league start, and Kornel Szucs continued at right-back, all in front of Luca Ashby-Hammond in goal.
In midfield, Caleb Watts dropped a little deeper, to join Malachi Boateng. Tegan Finn came in to play on the right side of midfield, with Bali Mumba on the left flank, and Xavier Amaechi in a new position in the centre, playing off of Owen Oseni.
Argyle started brightly. Szucs, happy to get forward from full-back, got a shot on target in the sixth minute, and the Greens continued to apply pressure.
On 14 minutes, Mumba made an incisive run down the left, and cut across for Finn, who did not have the room he required to get a shot away. Argyle kept the ball alive, though, and via Amaechi to Watts, got a shot on goal that required Tommy Simkin to dive to his right and push away.
Argyle had dominated the opening 20 minutes, but there was a creeping feeling that we had seen the picture before. All Argyle – then the opposition break and score.
That is not quite how it went – and Argyle continued with the odd chance, such as Mumba shooting on target bang on the half-hour mark – but Orient steadily started getting into the game, with an increase in territory, possession and opportunities.
A loose ball from Mumba enabled a Leyton break, with an Aaron Connolly charge ending in a shot saved into the side-netting. In a good five minutes for Orient, former Argyle loan midfielder Tyreeq Bakinson stood up a cross which Diallang Jaiyesimi should have done better with, and Connolly hit a tame shot which Ashby-Hammond comfortably saved.
Goalless at half-time. One streak, broken, another maintained. Argyle are still yet to score in the opening 45 minutes of a game this season, but in all previous four matches, they had trailed at the break.
Orient had the best chance of the early stages of the second half, with Jaiyesimi striking over; he could have done better, but it was good pressure from Boateng to put him off.
Less than six minutes into the half, Argyle made changes, sending on Bim Pepple and Bradley Ibrahim, for Oseni and Finn.
On the hour, a really well-delivered corner from Amaechi was just missed by a rushing-in Boateng, and Pepple could only steer wide.
It felt like the momentum was swinging Argyle’s way – and then Orient scored.
To the naked eye – without sufficient ideal angles to back up the theory – Koroma looked offside when receiving a chipped ball over the top, but the fact of the matter is that he was unmarked and free, and was able to smartly slip home.
Fragile Argyle looked rocked. They have been here too many times this season, and brittle confidence looked on the verge of shattered.
Argyle tried things; Joe Hatch came on, and was alternately placed wide on the right, and then just behind Pepple. Matty Sorinola replaced a tiring Mitchell, with Szucs sliding inside, but it was hard to see Argyle scoring, in truth.
Amaechi was the most likely, and from his jinking run he drew several defenders, ended the box, and offloaded for Mumba, who had a deflected shot saved.
The game petered out. Other than some long throws, Argyle could not test the East Londoners, who saw the game out in comfort.
Argyle: 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond, 6 Kornel Szucs, 10 Xavier Amaechi, 11 Bali Mumba, 14 Ayman Benarous, 15 Alex Mitchell (29 Matty Sorinola, 79), 17 Caleb Watts (38 Joe Hatch, 69), 18 Owen Oseni (27 Bim Pepple, 51), 19 Malachi Boateng, 22 Brendan Galloway (capt), 39 Tegan Finn (23 Bradley Ibrahim, 51). Substitutes: 13 Zak Baker (gk), 24 Caleb Roberts, 44 Victor Palsson.
Booked: Benarous 72
Leyton Orient: 1 Tommy Simkin, 3 Tayo Adaramola (2 Tom James, 79), 5 Dan Happe, 7 Ollie O’Neill (22 Azeem Abdulai, 90), 8 Idris El Mizouni, 10 Aaron Connolly, 14 Michael Craig, 15 Tyreeq Bakinson (4 Jack Simpson, 90), 17 Josh Koroma (28 Sean Clare, 78), 19 Omar Beckles (capt), 27 Diallang Jaiyesimi (11 Demetri Mitchell, 64). Substitutes: 33 Killian Cahill (gk), 21 Jack Moorhouse.
Goals: Koroma 63
Booked: Happe 39, Simkin 70
Attendance: 15,422 (420 away)
Referee: Ben Speedie
