Argyle were defeated 2-1 at home to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday afternoon, despite taking the lead early in the game.
Lorent Tolaj’s early goal gave the Greens hope, but by half-time Wimbledon had equalised through Omar Bugiel, and got what proved to be the winner through Marcus Browne early in the second period.
There were three changes for Argyle ahead of the game. Joe Edwards, having served a three-match suspension, and Bradley Ibrahim, who was banned for the last fixture, against Wigan, both returned, as did Alex Mitchell, who was absent for the Wigan game for personal reasons.
Mitchell played as part of the back three, in front of Conor Hazard, joined by Brendan Wiredu and Mathias Ross. Edwards lined up at the right wing-back, with Bali Mumba on the left.
Ibrahim and Malachi Boateng formed a three-man midfield, playing a little ahead of holding player Law McCabe, with Tolaj and Owen Oseni up front.
It had been two weeks since Argyle were last in action, in a lacklustre 1-1 draw with Wigan Athletic. There were no signs of any ring-rust here, though, as Argyle scored a very tidy goal just six minutes into the game.
It began with a trademark Bali Mumba saunter in from the left wing, effortlessly gliding infield, and feeding Ibrahim. Ahead of the midfielder, Tolaj made the kind of out-to-in run that demands a throughpass, and makes it obvious where it should be played.
It still needed to be played, though, and Ibrahim got the weight of it precisely right. Tolaj took his first touch about 35 yards out, clear of the defence, and bore down on goal. It is easy to say it after the event, but such is the confidence the Argyle number nine is playing with – and the confidence the Green Army have in him – that you felt confident that he would go on to convert, which he assuredly did.
The goal seemed to sting Wimbledon into action. The visitors came right back at Argyle, bossing the next period of the game, and going close when Ryan Johnson got on the end of a well-delivered corner, and nearly forced it home, seeing the effort go just wide.
The first half fell into a bit of a pattern. Wimbledon wanted to turn the game into a bit of a battle, and they were effective in winning more than their fair share of seemingly 50-50 encounters. In particular, when they could get the ball into their experienced frontman Bugiel, he was a threat, and a nuisance for Argyle’s backline, who began to give away free-kicks out of frustration.
Fortunately, they defended those set-pieces well, though it was of concern that the Greens did not look like adding to their initial goal through the bulk of the first period.
That nearly changed seven minutes before the interval, as Argyle pressure on Wimbledon, who had the ball in their right-back area, saw Mumba pinch it and drive towards the area. His low ball across the centre was meant for Edwards, who felt he was clipped as he went to connect with the ball. He might have had a point, but nothing was given.
Wimbledon fired a warning shot when Steve Seddon drove into the area, and crossed to the far post. Alistair Smith looked favourite to steal in and score, but a tremendous intervention from Boateng put paid to that.
However, before the half-time whistle sounded, the Dons got their deserved leveller. Argyle did not clear their lines, allowing Myles Hippolyte to cross, and Bugiel was the strongest in the centre to get his head to it and steer home.
Within seven minutes of the restart, Wimbledon had turned things around. Ibrahim, who had probably been Argyle’s best player to that point, got caught on the ball, and it allowed Wimbledon the turnover high up the field. Jake Reeves crossed, and Browne timed his arrival to knock the ball in the net.
Tom Cleverley acted swiftly, making two changes on 55 minutes, sending on Jamie Paterson and Bim Pepple for Oseni and McCabe. Not long afterwards, Matty Sorinola came on for Edwards.
Whether by the incremental substitutions, or the natural inclination to fight back, Argyle were much improved. They spent far more time pushing forward, playing in offensive areas, than they had done. What was missing was a final pass.
At one stage, the Greens had four straight corners, and when Wimbledon tried to clear the fourth one, Mumba stepped in and took a shot which deflected and only just fell outside the orbit of Boateng, in space in the area.
A minute or two later, Pepple drove through the centre, and tried to slip Ibrahim through, only for the ball to fall just behind the bursting-through midfielder.
With a shade under 20 minutes to go, so came Argyle’s best move of the match. Argyle played with purpose through Pepple and Ibrahim, spreading to Paterson, whose clipped cross was met on the run by Tolaj. It took a very fine save from Nathan Bishop to maintain the Dons’ lead.
The game was now all Argyle, but naturally there was the fear of the breakaway, and substitute Antwoine Hackford probably should have made it 3-1 when Wimbledon raced away from an Argyle corner. Hackford got the better of Boateng and headed towards goal but, to Boateng’s credit, knowing any foul would be a red card, he got close enough to pressure Hackford into shooting wide, without transgressing.
In the closing stages of the game, Argyle threw Mitchell up front to unsettle the Dons, and it worked of a fashion, with Mitchell able to tee up Tolaj for a shot that whizzed not far wide.
It was, however, not enough, and Argyle slipped to defeat.
Argyle: 1 Conor Hazard (capt), 2 Mathias Ross, 4 Brendan Wiredu, 8 Joe Edwards (capt, 29 Matty Sorinola, 62), 9 Lorent Tolaj, 11 Bali Mumba, 15 Alex Mitchell, 18 Owen Oseni (27 Bim Pepple, 55), 19 Malachi Boateng, 20 Law McCabe (7 Jamie Paterson, 55), 23 Bradley Ibrahim (39 Tegan Finn, 84). Substitutes: 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond (gk), 14 Ayman Benarous, 22 Brendan Galloway.
Goals: Tolaj 6
Wimbledon: 1 Nathan Bishop, 2 Nathan Asiimwe (29 Aron Sasu, 88), 3 Steve Seddon, 4 Jake Reeves (capt), 6 Ryan Johnson, 9 Omar Bugiel (7 Danilo Orsi, 83), 11 Marcus Browne (16 Antwoine Hackford, 70), 12 Alistair Smith, 15 Patrick Bauer (26 Riley Harbottle, half-time), 21 Myles Hippolyte (8 Callum Maycock, 83), 33 Isaac Ogundere. Substitutes: 20 Joe McDonnell (gk), 5 Sam Hutchinson.
Goals: Bugiel 44, Browne 52
Booked: Asiimwe 21, Bauer 28
Attendance: 16,215 (786 away)
Referee: Matt Corlett
