Argyle mini-winning run came to an end at Home Park, with a single-goal defeat to Peterborough United.
The only goal of the game came in the first half, with Chelsea loanee Jimmy-Jay Morgan scoring not long after Posh had had a penalty saved, and before Alex Mitchell had a headed effort on goal which Argyle thought was over the line.
Argyle were without Joe Edwards and Caleb Watts for the game; the former suspended after a red card at Luton Town, the latter ruled out for several months with injury sustained in the same game. Owen Dale had come on for Watts very early at Kenilworth Road, and slotted into a similar support role, just off striker Lorent Tolej.
Edwards’ absence meant a bit more of a rejig. Matty Sorinola switched to right wing-back; Bali Mumba dropped back to be the left-sided equivalent; Bradley Ibrahim played further forward in midfield, in a ‘number 10’ role, and Law McCabe came in to play in the centre of midfield, alongside Malachi Boateng.
Unchanged in all of this was the backline; Luca Ashby-Hammond was once again playing behind a back three of Mathias Ross, Alex Mitchell and Brendan Wiredu.
Peterborough were heading to Home Park as the division’s bottom side, but had picked up their first win of the campaign at home to Wycombe Wanderers seven days prior, and it was notable at that this early stage of the season, the team that beat Wycombe contained just two starters – Archie Collins and Brandon Khela – that began the opening game. They were unsurprisingly unchanged for this one.
The game began with a huge amount of Argyle possession. Maybe sensing Argyle’s own recent turn in fortunes, for the better, Peterborough sat deep and the Greens monopolised the ball from the outset. United’s deep position made it difficult for Argyle to find final-third space.
The Pilgrims’ best early chance came from a bit of a Posh gift. Goalkeeper Alex Bass was a long way out of his goal when not making a great clearance, and Ibrahim, beneficiary of the ricochet from a Luton clearance the previous Saturday, tried to fire back into the now unguarded net, but a Peterborough defender blocked the ball before it could reach.
Naturally, with all Argyle’s early dominance, and given the theme of the last two weeks, Peterborough were awarded a penalty on the 22-minute mark. To be fair, it did look a penalty; Morgan was slipped through and ran into the area, only to be brought down by the kind of dive-at-the-feet by a goalkeeper that one is contractually obliged to refer to as ‘despairing’.
Not the only one despairing. Argyle had conceded four goals in the previous two games, with three of them being spot-kicks (make what you will of the validity of their awards) so to give away another was not ideal.
Ashby-Hammond, though, atoned by diving to his right and saving Harry Leonard’s effort, eliciting a huge roar inside Home Park.
Although the penalty was repelled, Peterborough’s rise in confidence was palpable, and they took the lead slightly after the half-hour mark. Leonard and Khela helped the ball out to Peter Kioso, who took a shot on target which Ashby-Hammond saved. However, the ball fell to Morgan, who anticipated well and struck home.
The big talking point of the half came as it approached its conclusion. Peterborough had partially cleared a corner, then a long throw, before the ball was lofted back in. Mitchell looped a header which struck the crossbar and bounced down, striking the ground at a position which, to the naked eye, looked like it could have been over the line.
We will probably never know. Goal-line technology is only a provision from the second tier upwards, and replays are inconclusive. Those with green sympathies will probably say it looks in. Those on the United side of matters will likely point to whether or not the overhang of the ball means the whole of it was over or not.
No matter – the decision was no goal, and the Pilgrims went in at the break one down.
At half-time, Argyle brought on Brendan Galloway for Mathias Ross, shifting the system to revert to four at the back, with Galloway as a left-back, and Mumba now higher up the field.
It was Mumba who tested the goalkeeper just before the hour mark, cutting in from the right after a corner had been cleared to him, and driving a shot which Bass pushed up in the air, then caught.
Argyle then clattered the bar once again, this time at the Babcock Devonport End. Sustained pressure from a short corner eventually saw McCabe clip a clever ball in behind for Boateng to run on to. Boateng hooked the ball into the centre, to where Tolaj performed an acrobatic scissor kick. It was powerful and on target, but Bass pulled out an extraordinary save to turn the ball onto the crossbar, from where the ball bounced away.
Argyle tweaked again, sending on Ayman Benarous for Mitchell, and shifting Galloway into central defence.
Tolaj continued to be the danger, this time letting fly from range, and seeing a heavily deflected effort drift not far wide. Soon after, he got a strike partner, as Bim Pepple was brought on in McCabe’s stead, and posted upfield.
Argyle threw men forward, and crosses into the area, but Posh were resolute, and held out for the victory.
Argyle: 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2 Mathias Ross (22 Brendan Galloway, half-time) 4 Brendan Wiredu, 9 Lorent Tolaj, 11 Bali Mumba, 15 Alex Mitchell (14 Ayman Benarous, 71), 19 Malachi Boateng (capt), 20 Law McCabe (27 Bim Pepple, 77), 23 Bradley Ibrahim, 29 Matty Sorinola, 35 Owen Dale (39 Tegan Finn, 63). Substitutes: 1 Conor Hazard (gk), 18 Owen Oseni, 24 Caleb Roberts.
Booked: Mitchell 18, Finn 67, Sorinola 77
Peterborough: 1 Alex Bass, 4 Archie Collins, 8 Brandon Khela (16 Ben Woods, 64), 12 Tom Lees, 15 George Nevett, 24 Jimmy-Jay Morgan (19 Gustav Lindgren, 64), 27 Harry Leonard, 28 Matthew Garbett (2 Cal Johnston, 83), 29 Tom O’Connor, 30 Peter Kioso (capt), 40 Jacob Mendy (18 Cian Hayes, 64). Substitutes: 21 Vicente Reyes (gk), 7 Klaidi Lolos, 26 David Okagbue.
Goal: Morgan 31
Booked: Khela 28, Garbett 76
Attendance: 15,994 (536 away)
Referee: James Linington
