LUKE PUTS BOSS LOWE ON A HIGH
PLYMOUTH boss Ryan Lowe believes he’s got a goal machine in young striker Luke Jephcott.
A brace of goals from Jephcott saw Argyle smoothly on their way to a victory over a Carlisle side that could never get to grips with the dreadful conditions or their visitors’ slick passing style.
Substitute Ryan Hardie, on loan from Blackpool, added a late third for Plymouth to send their 567 travelling supporters home happy on the second leg of their 650-mile round-trip.
Lowe said: “I’m delighted for Luke, although he still has a long way to go. He’s doing everything we ask him to do.
“He’s the sort of player who gets himself in the right place at the right time. Ryan’s come in and scored and I want players who are going to score. All the lads contributed.”
Lowe admitted that, although Plymouth are the form team in the division, it’s only the half-way point of the season. “We are only in January and there’s a lot of hard work to do. We want to make 2020 a better year for all of us.”
The Plymouth boss was happy to put his hand in his pocket after promising to buy breakfast for fans travelling on the club’s official coach. “What a shift the fans have put in,” he said. It’s something to travel all that way and have over 500 here.”
Plymouth harnessed the conditions much the better in an opening half, where they had most of the possession.
Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin had to spread himself to make an early save from Jephcott then on-loan Wolves youngster Elliot Watt came to the Cumbrians’ rescue with a timely foot in as Danny Mayor set himself to shoot.
However, once Plymouth had taken a 33rd-minute lead, Jephcott steering home at the near post after Byron Moore’s cross from the right, Carlisle were facing an uphill struggle.
Four minutes after the break Jephcott was the scorer again, finding space in the box to slot his shot past Adam Collin after Tyreeq Bakinson had set up the chance.
Carlisle staged a brief fightback, with Mike Jones testing Alex Palmer with a raking drive.
However, they had a reprieve when a deflected Joe Edwards cross rebounded off Collin and hit a post.
The visitors ended any doubts about their superiority in the 75th minute when Hardie supplied a clinical finish from Mayor’s pass.
It got worse for the Cumbrians in added time when Aaron Hayden was sent off for a second yellow card. Carlisle head coach Chris Beech said: “Plymouth are a good team and use the ball very well. You have to respect the opposition, but not fear them. We gave away a soft first goal. We started well, but we needed to push on. Like any arm wrestle, someone gets on top and in conditions like that it’s difficult to turn it around.”