It’s another point in the right direction - Lowe
Manager is frustrated Plymouth Argyle were not more clinical against Crewe
RYAN Lowe thought Plymouth Argyle created more than enough chances to have won their League One encounter against Crewe Alexandra at Home Park.
Instead, the Pilgrims had to settle for a 1-1 draw after a 64th minute equaliser from Crewe midfielder Oli Finney cancelled out an early penalty from Luke Jephcott.
Lowe saw his side have much the better of the first half, but they only had Jephcott’s 11th minute spot kick to show for it.
Argyle could not maintain the same level of performance after the interval, although they still forced Crewe ‘keeper David Richards into a couple of fine saves.
Lowe said: “I thought we were very good first half especially, and there were some good parts in the second half also.
“We always knew Crewe were going to potentially have a spell because they are a good team.
“We felt if we could nullify their runs off the back of our midfielders we would be fine, and they obviously scored that goal off the back of one of our lads.
“In terms of the overall performance, I thought we had plenty of chances to a win a game of football two games of football - you have just got to put them in the back of the net.”
He continued: “Overall, I’m pleased. We are building little blocks and it’s another point in the right direction.
“Yeah, three would have been nice but it weren’t to be. We will move on from it now because it was a decent enough performance to warrant a point.”
Argyle had 14 attempts on goal during the game, with nine of them coming in the first half while Crewe had just two.
The visitors then had five on target attempts in the second period compared to four for the Pilgrims.
Lowe said: “I think we always carve out good chances. It’s the work we put in on the training pitch and the game plans we put together.
“We said that to the boys before the game. You are just wanting that one to fall to someone - a little bit of luck.
“I watched Wolves against West
Brom today, and there was a bit of fortune in a couple of Wolves’ goals where they just dropped to someone and ‘bang’ they scored.
“I don’t think our lads are in the right place at the right time for them type of ones.
“But in terms of the way we work our way up the pitch to create chances it’s always good and it does please me when we do that.
“It will please me more if we start putting the ball in the back of the net.”
Argyle have been particularly good in the first half of games this season, often taking a lead into the interval, but they have tended to struggle after that.
The second half comeback from Crewe was the latest example of that, but Lowe did not believe too much should be read into that.
Lowe said: “I thought we were excellent second half, and they (Crewe) were. Both teams were going for it.
“They knew they had to come out and get a goal, and we knew if we got that second goal we could probably see the game out.
“The lad (Finney) has ran off the back of one of our players and it’s a great finish from him, with the outside of his left foot.
“They are things we feel we can deal with. We shouldn’t be in those positions. The ball retention should be good.
“There are never two halves of a game that are the same, let’s have it right.
“I don’t want to get into ‘that half was better than this half.’ It’s a game of football for 95 minutes that you have got to try and win, and that’s certainly what we try and do.”
Jephcott’s 15th goal of the season came from the penalty spot after referee Charles Breakspear ruled that Argyle wing-back Conor Grant had been fouled by Luke Offord.
Crewe boss David Artell said: “I am not going to speak about the referee. All I will say is when a player kicks our player in the box and chucks himself on the floor you just hope the referee sees what it is. Unfortunately, he didn’t.
“However their goal came, Plymouth deserved to lead at half-time. There is no getting away from that fact.”