Printer-friendly pageTuesday, January 22, 2008
Despite dreadful weather in the Westcountry, Plymouth's pitch proved perfectly playable although the going could only be described as 'heavy’. In horse racing circles that normally favours heavier beasts, but the selection of Powell ahead of Thomas probably owes more to the alarming lack of harmony Davies and Thomas demonstrated in the last game.
Saints did not follow the heavyweight strategy elsewhere, with Ostlund, Hammill and Rasiak all getting starts. In fact it was a couple of young colts who combined for an early goal when Wright-Phillips converted Hammill's long ball with awesome composure.
At the other end things weren't quite going to plan but Davis was again a formidable barrier. He was very instrumental in preventing an equaliser just before half time, but it looked certain that Halmosi would score after a good block by the keeper; however, Saints were rescued by a brave last gasp challenge by Vignal, who may have recognised the threat to his place from new signing O'Halloran.
I'm not sure 1-1 at the break would have been a bad thing, the way Saints seem to approach second periods when in front, and it didn't take long for Argyle to get their goal when attacking their 'home' end - Fallon swept the ball home from a right wing cross.
The game was there for Saints to lose, with Ostlund's flank coming under increasing pressure, while Davis again performed superbly when touching Halmosi's shot onto the post. However, the introduction of Thomas and John for Ostlund and Rasiak added weight to the Southampton side and we finished the game strongly, despite some embarrassing crosses from Thomas in the overlapping full back role.
LSSC Man of the Match: Kelvin Davis, who enthused his critics by even coming off his line to gather a couple of crosses.
George Burley's reaction:
"Bradley has had a few of those one-on-ones recently and has taken them well.
"He beat the offside trap - I think Plymouth were looking for a flag - and then looped it over the keeper. It was a good finish, but that's what he does.
"Overall I felt the conditions were always going to play a part and it was never going to be a classic but that's five unbeaten for us away from home now and that is pleasing.
"It is always a difficult place to come to and their two strikers gave our centre-backs a busy afternoon."
Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Timar, Seip, Sawyer, Norris, Summerfield (Folly 68), Nalis, Halmosi, MacLean, Fallon.
Subs Not Used: Hodges, Easter, Jutkiewicz, Clark.
Goals: Fallon 49.
Southampton: Davis, Ostlund (Thomas 78), Davies, Powell, Vignal, Hammill (Idiakez 58), Wright, Euell, Surman, Wright-Phillips, Rasiak (John 81).
Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Skacel.
Booked: Powell, Vignal, Davies, Rasiak.
Goals: Wright-Phillips 12.
Att: 14,676
Ref: Uriah Rennie (S Yorkshire).
