Argyle draw another blank in the Home Park dark

Plymouth Argyle 0

Newport County 0

Sky Bet Football League 2, Tuesday 22 October 2013, Home Park

In pretty grim conditions, a scoreless midweek encounter against Newport was not the kick-start the Pilgrims badly need after a decidely indifferent run. As seven matches without a win became eight, the lack of goals continues to haunt John Sheridan's men.

A first half effort by Lewis Alessandra, well saved by Exiles' keeper Lenny Pidgeley, was Argyle's best chance. Alessandra and Andre Blackman had both been recalled to the starting line-up as Sheridan continued with a 3-5-2 formation.

Ex-Pilgrim Chris Zebroski comically miss-kicked when presented with a golden opportunity to put the visitors ahead, but really neither side managed to conjur much in the way of goal scoring chances in either half.

Newport came out with some attacking intent in the second half but were reduced to long range shots, while Argyle similarly lacked penetration.

A floodlight failure twenty minutes from the end added to the sense of frustration and air of gloom around Home Park. Play was restarted and eleven minutes of extra time allocated by referee Oliver Langford during which Argyle pressed fruitlessly for a winner.

As the rain bucketed down at the end of the match, the final whistle confirmed the stalemate. Perhaps this point will be decisive come the end of the season but the Argyle fans will surely have brighter nights ahead.

Argyle are Mansfield bound at the weekend.

Plymouth Argyle (3-5-2): 23 Luke McCormick; 4 Maxime Blanchard, 16 Neal Trotman, 17 Curtis Nelson; 8 Romuald Boco (27 Andres Gurrieri 71), 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 7 Lewis Alessandra, 14 Luke Young (20 Hamza Bencherif 85), 3 Andre Blackman; 9 Reuben Reid, 19 Paul Hayes (18 Tyler Harvey 71). Substitutes (not used): 1 Jake Cole, 2 Durrell Berry, 15 Paul Wotton, 28 Jamie Reckord.

Newport County (3-5-2): 1 Lenny Pidgeley; 6 Ismail Yakubu, 5 Tony James, 12 Robbie Willmott; 18 Ryan Jackson, 19 Tom Naylor, 8 Lee Minshull, 7 Adam Chapman (17 Michael Flynn 72), 16 Billy Jones; 11 Chris Zebroski (9 Danny Crow 90), 14 Conor Washington. Substitutes (not used): 2 David Pipe, 23 Christian Jolley, 25 Jamie Stevens (gk), 26 Ellis Redman.

Referee: Oliver Langford

Attendance: 5,689 (404 away).