Lowe takes positives but poor away form continues at Argyle
RYAN Lowe was disappointed but not downhearted after Plymouth Argyle’s 1-0 League One defeat away to Peterborough United last night.
Lowe thought his side were ‘100 times better’ than they had been when they were hammered 5-1 at Fleetwood Town on Saturday.
He praised his players for ‘fighting through thick and thin, playing the right way’ against second-placed Peterborough.
Lowe also felt the Pilgrims could have taken a point out of the contest at the Weston Homes Stadium.
Argyle had only two attempts on goal but Lowe pointed out that Peterborough had made a number of blocks.
The difference between the teams was a 41st minute goal from former Bristol Rovers striker Jonson ClarkeHarris, who was set up by a clever pass from man-of-the-match Siriki Dembele.
Lowe said: “I thought we were very good, especially second half. First half, when you have been beaten five you have always got that little bit of fear in you.
“They (the players) are human beings. But what I saw tonight was a team that was fighting through thick and thin, playing the right way, the right brand.
“We were unfortunate not to take a point here at probably one of the best teams we are going to face.
“I think the football we played, and the bravery we showed, was 100 times better than it was Saturday.
“I’m proud of all the boys but disappointed they couldn’t get a goal and we couldn’t get a point because if you get a point on the road at these type of places you are doing well.”
Lowe continued: “I always knew I was going to get a reaction. They (the heavy defeat against Fleetwood) are a one-off.
“I have got a good group and Saturday hurt them. It hurt all of us, and it takes a little while to get over something like that.
“People say ‘ You want the next game to come quick’ but, no, you want to wait. You want that little time to work with the lads.
“We have barely had time to work with them. We have done a lot of video work but just one training session on the grass.
“We put some stuff into them and got the rubbish out of their legs, and gave them that positive energy that they needed, and deserved.
“I was disappointed that we couldn’t get a goal and I was disappointed we couldn’t come away with a point.
“If we would of, it would have been a great result because not many teams will come here and perform the way we did and take points.”
Argyle finished the game strongly, forcing Peterborough to defend their penalty area strongly, without ever really troubling ‘keeper Christy Pym.
Lowe said: “We created plenty of chances. Sometimes it’s a little bit of a lack of quality, and that’s the levels we are at.
“We are the new boys, coming from League Two to League One. We have got a lot of young loan lads in there as well who are still learning along the way and doing fantastic.
“There was one there, on another day, where Jephs (striker Luke Jephcott) smashes that right in.
“And, on another day, Coops (George Cooper) curls that one in the bottom corner. I think we had six shots blocked so they are putting bodies on the line.
“What we need to do, and what we keep doing, is we keep working on our patterns of play.
“Yeah, we went a little bit direct at times. We were getting some second balls and then playing in their half.
“We did that well. I thought we changed that up and mixed it up, which was pleasing.”
Dembele was a constant threat to Argyle with his skill on the ball and movement and it was no surprise he was involved in the decisive goal.
It came when he played a pass behind the Pilgrims’ defence and Clarke-Harris drilled a low shot past Mike Cooper.
Lowe said: “We knew Dembele is a good player and Jonson Clarke-Harris cost a lot of money (from Bristol Rovers in the summer).
“It was a moment of brilliance. We felt we had Dembele covered, we brought him onto his left foot.
“Jonson Clarke-Harris has made a great run and I think he has out a hole in the net to be honest because he has smashed it that hard.
“That’s what he is. He’s a fearless goalscorer who makes sure he gets a good connection with things.”
Argyle dropped one position to 11th in the table after the defeat by Peterborough and are still without an away league win this season.
Lowe added: “We are the new boys in the league and we will come unstuck at times against some good opposition teams, and some good opposition players.
“There are football clubs who can pay bigger wages than we can afford, we know that, but it’s a big test. We are really enjoying it.”