‘YOU MAKE MISTAKES, YOU GET PUNISHED’
RYAN LOWE admitted Plymouth Argyle were on a League One learning curve after Saturday’s action-packed 4-4 draw away to AFC Wimbledon.
The Pilgrims’ manager saw his side score some superb goals, and in particular a sumptuous 25-yard curling shot from midfielder Conor Grant, which put them 2-1 up on the stroke of half-time.
However, Argyle’s defensive frailties resulted in Wimbledon taking a seemingly unassailable 4-2 lead by the 69th minute.
The Pilgrims dug deep, though, and battled back to pick up a point with goals from substitutes Niall Canavan and Dom Telford.
Lowe said: “To come back from 4-2 down with 20 minutes to go and get a point, I’m very pleased.
“I’m obviously disappointed with the goals (conceded), but it’s a learning curve. We’re new to the league. You make mistakes, you get punished,” he added.
“With all due respect, in the league last season you could make mistakes and not get punished.
“We certainly did get punished today for our lack of intelligence and lack of know-how. We knew what AFC Wimbledon were going to do and we knew were going to pose a threat – but how can you not be pleased with four cracking goals?
“The character and resilience was outstanding. Yes, part of me is disappointed because we were winning the game – but nothing is going to be easy, the way we play football.
“We play a brand of football, it’s exciting, that’s what we want, but we’re not finished. We’ve got to keep learning. The good thing for me is they are individual mistakes. We’re not getting ripped open, we’re not getting passed through the thirds and runs off people.
“We’re getting done by our own individual errors, so it’s pleasing for me that I know we can work on that.
“If we were getting cut open in terms of passages of play, I would be worried, but I’m certainly not because I know the players we’ve got will listen and learn.”
This contest at Loftus Road was a real test of character for Argyle, conceding three goals in a row after leading at half-time but still having the fight in them to earn a draw.
Lowe added: “They’re not going to fall apart for this football club, and for me and my staff, because we are as one.
“We’re a family. The lads who have come off the pitch [after being substituted] are disappointed but absolutely over the moon for their mates who have come on and scored, in Dom Telford and Niall Canavan.
“That’s what we’ve got – we’ve got a good group. As I’ve said, it’s going to be entertaining all season because that’s the brand and the style we’re going to play.”
The Pilgrims’ boss stated: “When you’re 4-2 down, to show the resilience and character to come back – and not score scruffy goals, they were good goals – it’s pleasing.”
George Cooper opened the scoring for the visitors with a superb shot from a very tight angle in the 16th minute, only for Joe Pigott to equalise soon afterwards.
Grant came up with a goal-of-theseason contender in the 45th minute when he curled the ball high into the net. Shane McLoughlin put Wimbledon level at 2-2 early in the second half, and further goals followed from Pigott – with a fantastic free-kick – and Ryan Longman.
Argyle then staged a magnificent fightback, with goals from two of their three substitutes.
First, Canavan scored with a glancing header following a corner and then Telford made it 4-4 in the 79th minute with a close-range finish.
Lowe’s Pilgrims even had a chance to win the action-packed match in stoppage time, but Telford was inches wide with a header.