Argyle are ‘a long way’ from where they strive to be
PLYMOUTH Argyle have got a long way to go to get to where they want to be, manager Ryan Lowe has admitted.
Lowe saw his side, unbeaten in their first nine League One games of 2021, soundly beaten 3-0 by promotion-chasing Peterborough United at Home Park on Tuesday night.
Peterborough scored all of their goals in the second half as they proved too good for Argyle and went to the top of the table, replacing Lincoln City.
Lowe was very disappointed with the way that the Pilgrims conceded the first two goals.
Sammie Szmodics opened the scoring for Peterborough with a simple tap-in only 18 seconds after the kick-off for the second half.
Then striker Jonson Clarke-Harris made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute when the Argyle defence was sliced open.
Midfielder Jack Taylor wrapped up the win for Peterborough with a terrific late strike, leaving Lowe with much to reflect on.
Lowe said: “I have got to give them a bit of credit. They are a good team, they are top of the league for a reason.
“They are well drilled, they are well coached, the players they have got, they are a good team and that’s where we aspire to be.
“We have got a long way to get to where they are because they don’t give goals away like we have done today, especially the first two.
“I’m disappointed in that but, look, we will get back to the drawing board.
“We have got another tough encounter at the weekend (against second-placed Lincoln City at Home Park) and we have to make sure we try and put it right.”
It had been an evenly-contested first half before Argyle made the worst possible start to the second half.
Lowe said: “It’s not good is it because you can’t get going? One ball over the top, it shouldn’t happen.
“We have addressed it in there (the dressing room) with the lads. We have shown them it, we have told them about it. They know.
“I’m totally disappointed in that because if we keep the back door shut we have got every chance of winning the game.
“Do they deserve to win 3-0? Probably not. Do they deserve to win maybe 1-0? Possibly, yeah.
“If the strike at the end, the third goal, wins them the game I will hold my hands up and I will take that because it’s a 25-yard screamer in the top bin, but the other two goals I can’t deal with.”
The first goal particularly irked Lowe because of the way it was conceded so early at the start of the second half.
Lowe said: “They are hard to take them. I don’t mind getting done by a moment of brilliance, that wasn’t a moment of brilliance.
“That’s what I’m disappointed about, but I will never get too high and never get too low.
“We have to dust ourselves down now quickly because we have got to get the lads ready (for Lincoln).”
When asked what he had learned about his team from the defeat, Lowe returned to the same theme.
“Not to give sloppy goals away,” he replied. “But I have said that loads this season haven’t I?
“I think that’s where we are. We are a good team, but we are not a very good team yet. We have got to work hard to be a very good team.
“Peterborough have been a very good team and now they are strolling home to be an excellent team, and probably should get promoted - first or second I’m not too sure.
“They have got some good quality, they are well drilled, they have got a good manager, they have got a good owner so they are on track to get where they want to get to.
“That’s where I want to be. I want to be challenging at the top end of the league with this football club but we have got a little bit of a way to go.”