Adams wants home draw as he sets sights on third-round income boost
Plymouth Argyle made it three wins from their last four games when they defeated Stevenage 1-0 in the FA Cup first round at Home Park on Saturday.
They left it late, though, with Ruben Lameiras, who was on as a substitute for the injured Jamie Ness, getting the tie’s decisive goal in second-half stoppage time.
The Pilgrims will have to wait until the draw takes place this evening to find out their second-round opponents. Argyle, who picked up £36,000 prize money for beating their Hertfordshire opponents, will be ball number 16.
Here is what Argyle manager Derek Adams had to say after the first-round win.
Q: Your first thoughts Derek? Good to be through?
A: “Yes, I’m delighted to be through to the next round.
“I think we deserved it with the performance over the 90 minutes. The chances that we did create, over the 90 minutes, were very good. We probably should have been ahead in the first half.
“We had a number of opportunities, through Joel Grant, Freddie [Ladapo] and Graham Carey but, in the end, we had to use Ruben off the bench to get us that victory.”
Q: Jamie Ness comes off and the man who goes on gets a great goal at the end. He has got some real quality in his finishing, hasn’t he?
A: “He does. He can open up defences and he can score goals.”
Q: If any player deserved a goal, it was Graham Carey. He was all over the park.
A: “It was a difficult afternoon for their left-back [John Hunt], especially in the first half. Graham probably could have scored.
“Over the 90 minutes, we have had to deal with two very tall centre-forwards in [Alex] Revell and [Kurtis] Guthrie and I thought we did that very well. They are a team that are riding high towards the top end of League Two.”
Q: The longer it went on, did you have any thoughts you could be going to Stevenage for a replay?
A: “Yes, you always think that, because of how late you get in the game.
“When we had the long injury lay-off [Stevenage’s Sam Seddon was eventually taken off on a stretcher], it gave us an opportunity to regroup.
“We were still creating a number of opportunities. We probably didn’t pick the final pass at times, or it was good defending from Stevenage.”
Q: Their goalkeeper [Seny Dieng] made a couple of good saves as well, didn’t he?
A: “They were resolute and worked ever so hard as a team. They came here to try to frustrate us, which is always going to be the case when you come away from home and you are a club from a lower division, and they did that well.”
Q: Who would you like in the second round?
A: “We would like a team from a lower division to hopefully give us an opportunity of progressing to the next round.
“We do a lot travelling throughout the season, so any- thing we get at home would be hugely beneficial.
Q: That was much more like the Graham Carey we have been used to seeing over the years. From the first kick-off he was running at their defence and causing them trouble. That must have been pleasing for you.
A: “I’m delighted because on any day Graham can take on full-backs, and he was going inside and outside the fullback [Hunt].
“They did have to double up at times and he was still able to get past them. From his point of view, he will be delighted with his performance.”
Q: So Jamie Ness was going to come off, and then just before you had the chance to make the substitution he has picked up this injury?
A: “It’s obviously a bit annoying. He just had a slight feel- ing in his calf, so he had to come off.”
Q: Had there been a replay, you would have Newport away this Tuesday, Stevenage the following Tuesday and then Shrewsbury in the league the Tuesday after that. That one goal has saved a headache, hasn’t it?
A: “Yes, definitely. We obviously should have won by a greater margin, but to win 1-0, keep a clean-sheet and progress to the next round of the cup is what it’s about.”
Q: Your attacking play was good, with lots of width to it, but Stevenage defended their penalty area very well. It was a day where patience was needed, wasn’t it?
A: “It was. Joel Grant, Freddie Ladapo and Graham Carey had good opportunities in the first half, especially, and then into the second half, which we didn’t take. We always thought we would get another opportunity in the game and it was really very good play from Ruben.”
Q: You have had some good results and performances recently and now, to get into the second round of the FA Cup, do you feel the momentum is building a little bit?
A: “To progress through the rounds is important for the football club.
“The players, as you saw at the end, are more delighted at getting that win and getting us through to the [second round] draw on Monday night.”
Q: Everyone will be dreaming of a third-round place. It’s within touching distance, isn’t it?
A: “We were there a few years ago [against Liverpool] and hopefully we can do the same again this season.”