Western Morning News

Ennis strikes the winner on his full Argyle debut

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Chris Errington at the Crown Ground

STRIKER Niall Ennis marked his first start for Plymouth Argyle by scoring the only goal of the game in the 1-0 League One win away to Accrington Stanley.

However, the Pilgrims were indebted to 21-year-old goalkeeper Mike Cooper as he made a couple of excellent and crucial saves in second half stoppage time.

Cooper kept out late attempts from Accrington pair Adam Phillips and Dion Charles to preserve the visitors’ slender lead.

He was much the busier of the two ‘keepers and produced a couple of good saves in the first half too.

Argyle did not have too many chances of their own but Ennis was able to capitalise on one which came his way in the 51st minute after a defensive mistake.

That proved enough to earn his side maximum points and extend their unbeaten league run at the start of 2021 to seven games.

Ennis made his full debut for the Pilgrims after four previous substitute appearance­s as he replaced Ryan Hardie, who dropped down to the substitute­s’ bench.

That was the only change Ryan Lowe made to his team from the 2-2 draw away to Portsmouth.

Accrington were without the suspended pair of Joe Pritchard and Sean McConville while Chelsea loan signing Tariq Uwakwe only made the substitute­s’ bench.

Pritchard was suspended for one match after being sent-off near the end of the 0-0 draw at Northampto­n.

McConville, usually a good performer for Stanley against Argyle, began a four-match ban after he admitted a violent conduct charge.

He was involved in a melee after the incident which led to Pritchard’s dismissal and was not seen by the match officials but was caught on video.

The kick-off had been brought forward to 5.30pm because of the forecast freezing temperatur­es and the weather was as billed.

There were light snow flurries in the build-up to the match and it was bitterly cold in the wind.

Accrington showed their attacking intent from the kick-off as they had their first attempt on goal after only 18 seconds.

Paul Smyth unleashed a long range drive which had Cooper scrambling to his right and grabbing hold of the ball at the second attempt.

On-loan Burnley midfielder Phillips then had a shot blocked behind for a corner as the Pilgrims came under early pressure.

Phillips also curled a 30-yard freekick over the crossbar before Cooper made a good low save to his left to push away a strike from Charles.

Accrington played in a 4-3-1-2 formation with Smyth a lively presence for them behind the front two of Charles and Colby Bishop.

Argyle spent much of their time trying to contain Accrington but should have taken the lead in the 25th minute.

The home side were caught out by a quickly-taken corner and the ball reached Ennis unmarked at the far post.

The striker was only a few yards out from goal but somehow lifted the ball over the bar and onto the front of the stand roof.

Cooper made a good low after another break from Charles before Accrington went very close to an opening goal in the 32nd minute.

A well-worked free-kick after a handball offence by Danny Mayor on the edge of the Argyle penalty area led to a curling shot from Phillips which rebounded off the bar.

That was the closest either side came to breaking the deadlock in the first half, with the Pilgrims working hard to limit the threat of Charles and Bishop.

Into the second half and it did not take long for Argyle to open the scoring as Ennis celebrated his full debut with a 51st minute goal.

It came when Ennis intercepte­d a headed back pass from Accrington defender Ben Barclay which was intended for goalkeeper Nathan Baxter.

Ennis got there before the on-loan Chelsea shot-stopper and touched the ball around him before slotting into the empty net from a tight angle.

Accrington skipper Seamus Conneely had the next chance when he drilled a low shot across the face of goal.

Then, soon afterwards, Smyth raced in behind the Pilgrims’ defence and was one-on-one with Cooper at an angle.

Smyth tried to put the ball between the legs of Cooper but the Argyle ‘keeper blocked it behind for a corner.

Argyle made their first substituti­on in the 68th minute when Liverpool loan signing Adam Lewis replaced midfielder Panutche Camara.

Hardie was then sent on in the 73rd minute as he replaced Jephcott, who had not had an opportunit­y in the game to add to his tally of 18 goals this season.

Ennis set up Hardie for a chance after a good surging run forward, despite having his shirt pulled by Accrington midfielder Matt Butcher.

He eventually played the ball to Hardie, who cut inside and had low left-foot shot saved by Baxter.

Cooper made another fine save to keep out a stoppage time header from Phillips, clawing the ball away as he dived to his left.

He came up with an even better save in the closing seconds as the ball sat up nicely for Charles to unleash a first time shot from 18 yards out.

Cooper flung himself to his left and pushed the ball away, and moments later the Pilgrims could start celebratin­g a hard-earned win.

Plymouth Argyle (3-1-4-2): Mike Cooper; Will Aimson, Jerome Opoku, Kell Watts; Tyrese Fornah; Byron Moore, Panutche Camara (Adam Lewis 68), Danny Mayor, Conor Grant; Luke Jephcott (Ryan Hardie 73), Niall Ennis. Substitite­s (not used): Ben Reeves, Klaidi Lolos, Luke McCormick (gk), Sam Woods, Ryan Law.

Accrington Stanley (4-3-3): Nathan Baxter; Michael Nottingham, Ben Barclay, Mark Hughes, Cameron Burgess; Matt Butcher, Seamus Conneely, Adam Phillips; Paul Smyth, Colby Bishop, Dion Charles. Substitute­s (not used): Jon Russell, Joe Maguire, Tariq Uwakwe, Harvey Rodgers, Tom Scully, David Morgan, Topby Savin.

Referee: Anthony Blackhouse

JAMES Anderson turned in one of the finest spells of his long and distinguis­hed career to lead England to an unforgetta­ble 227-run victory against India, then nonchalant­ly claimed his reverseswi­ng masterclas­s was nothing “out of the ordinary”, writes Rory Dollard.

With England chasing nine fifth-day wickets to secure the first Test in Chennai, Anderson tore the heart from the Indian line-up in a five-over stint of three wickets for just six runs.

Jack Leach spun his way to figures of four for 76 but Anderson defied convention­al logic around the role of seamers at the conclusion of matches in the sub-continent as he got a wearing ball to hoop in devastatin­g fashion.

His first over the day will go down as a stunning example of the art, sending the off stump somersault­ing twice in four balls to send Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane back to the pavilion.

Rahane was fortunate to survive an lbw shout a few seconds earlier and first-innings top-scorer Rishabh Pant was later beaten by an off-cutter from round the wicket, with the 38-year-old cycling through his considerab­le arsenal.

His efforts had England fans purring in delight and his captain, Joe Root, repeating last summer’s refrain that Anderson was the ‘GOAT (greatest of all time)’.

After 158 Tests and 611 wickets, Anderson was happy to leave the superlativ­es to others.

“I didn’t really do anything out of the ordinary from the plans we had,” he said.

“I was just lucky really with a couple that hit the bare patches and a bit of reverse as well. So there was a bit of luck involved as well but I was happy with how it went. It’s always nice to see the stumps cartwheeli­ng out the ground. It doesn’t happen very often at my age so I’m really happy with it.

“To be honest I was more expecting an lbw, one to keep low or a caught midwicket with one that stuck in the pitch a little bit.”

Root, who led his team to their sixth successive overseas victory dating back to three wins in South Africa and two last month in Sri Lanka, was on hand to fill in the blanks left by Anderson’s modesty.

“He’s just the GOAT I reckon, leave it there. He seems to get better all the time,” he said.

“His skill level keeps improving, his work-rate is as good as anyone’s I’ve ever seen and his fitness levels are probably the best they’ve ever been. He’s a credit to English cricket.

“When you’re under pressure and need something to happen, if you’ve got him in your armoury it’s a very comfortabl­e position to be in.”

 ?? Dave Rowntree/PPAUK ?? Niall Ennis scores the only goal for Plymouth Argyle in their win at Accrington Stanley
Dave Rowntree/PPAUK Niall Ennis scores the only goal for Plymouth Argyle in their win at Accrington Stanley
 ?? Dave Rowntree/PPAUK ?? > Final whistle delight for Argyle boss Ryan Lowe
Dave Rowntree/PPAUK > Final whistle delight for Argyle boss Ryan Lowe

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