Plymouth Argyle 1 Walsall 0: Match report
Derek Adams could have done the first, but did not; the second was the name of Argyle's deserving goalscorer; the PIlgrims had certainly soldiered out through a tough old festive period; but they sail into the New Year on the crest of a wave.
A entertaining game agains Walsall was decided by Ryan Taylor's piece of individual brillance midway through the second half the three points their endevour surely deserved.
The Saddlers did not resemble the side that outbattled Argyle at their place early in this season. Mind you, Argyle hardly look anything like the side that lost 2-1 at Banks's Stadium.
The Pilgrims' New Year really began around October - around the time Ryan Taylor returned, funnily enough.
How do you judge a Christmas period? Mince pies eaten, presents unwrapped? Argyle will measure in points won (10, could have been 12) and miles per point (bundles, but all worth it).
The only change to the Argyle side from the game 48 hour previous was the reintroduction of Antoni Sarcevic to Argyle's midfield, in place of Yann Songo'o.
A slick move on Walsall's right side saw Erhun Oztumer and Zeli Ismail combine for the latter to send a dangerous across the six-yard box. Joe Edwards, running on the back post, was only blocked by a timely intervention by Oscar Threlkeld.
At the other end, after Ryan Taylor was clattered from behind, Graham Carey's on target free-kick was pushed round by goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, then Ryan Edwards headed over from the set-piece.
It was a pleasing early pace set in the game, with both teams trying to play despite the squally conditions. Sarcevic's fiercely hit drive was deflected past Gillespie but not far wide of the post, before Argyle short corner routine, via David Fox, was headed on target by Edwards, but held by the goalkeeper.
Cue Walsall's turn. A corner on the right was also worked with a short routine, which got the better of Argyle and ended with a powerful drive across the face of goal which Ryan Taylor did well to steer out of danger.
Carey picked up the ball around thirty yards out, and shaped to shoot. The average Argyle's fan's brain has to be compartmentalised for such a situation. Anyone else: 'Don't shoot, whatever you do'. Carey: 'Go on, buuy, hit it'. He did, and it was not far over, dipping past Gillepsie but onto the the top of the roof of the net.
The pace and motif of the game continued, even the quality notably waned. Attacks tended to end with a miscontrol or a pass given away, rather than defensive brilliance, but it took little away from the inherent entertaining nature of the contest.
In Oztumer and Ismail Walsall had two enigmatic attackers who looked dangerous but not at full speed, while Argyle had Carey, always buzzing under the surface. His whipped cross for Taylor was only just too heavy for the forward.
A Walsall corner, flicked on by Bakayoko, asked a question of Remi Matthews, but he was equal, pushing the ball out, then at the other end Gillespie caught a fizzy delivery from Lameiras.
Oztumer tried similar; in fact, it looked like it could genuinely have been a shot, from the corner quadrant, such was the deliberate whip on the ball, but Matthews punched it away.
The final chance of the half came from Argyle, who carefully worked a chance that eventually to Carey, but his right foot could not conjure the same wizardry as his left, and the ball sailed in to the Devonport to signal the close to proceedings of an odd sort of half. A huge amount of hard work from both teams seemed not to justify a goalless 45, but the fact that the quality fell short of the endeavour was the probable reason.
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