Lowe at a loss to explain Argyle’s ‘dreadful’ start

Early mistake gifts Ipswich goal and condemns Pilgrims to fourth straight defeat

RYAN Lowe was at a loss to explain Plymouth Argyle’s dreadful start in their 1-0 defeat by Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Saturday.

The Pilgrims’ boss admitted his side had gifted Ipswich the only goal of the game in the fourth minute.

It came when on-loan Adam Lewis, who had been recalled to the team to play at left wing-back, attempted a back pass to goalkeeper Mike Cooper.

However, it was easily intercepted by Ipswich’s Troy Parrott and he pushed the ball past Cooper before rolling it into the empty net.

Argyle, who had lost their previous three matches, endured a torrid time in the opening 20 minutes but fortunately for them Ipswich did not make the most of the countless misplaced passes from the Pilgrims.

Cooper also made an excellent one-on-one save from Kayden Jackson as the hosts dominated the opening stages.

Argyle did show some improvement as the game went on but chances were few and far between and Lewis’ error proved decisive in the end.

Lowe said: “We have given them a goal.

“We said to play in their half early doors and then we pass a ball across the back and it’s intercepted and it’s a gimme.

“I thought we played some good football at times. Danny [Mayor] and Panutche [Camara] caused them a few problems in different types of positions, so that positive.

“But the first 20 minutes we kept giving the ball away.

“I give them the freedom to go and play, and I want them to be simple as much as they possibly can, and we weren’t.

“After that I thought we grew into the game fine. We had a couple of chances, half-chances, we played a good bit of football.

“The stats will say we outdid them [Ipswich] on possession but ultimately it’s goals that win you games.”

Lewis, who was making only his fourth start for Argyle after signing from Liverpool in January, played for 63 minutes before he was replaced in a double substitution, along with striker Niall Ennis.

Lowe added: “He [Lewis] knows he has made a mistake but what can he do? He has just got to get on with it.

“He can’t cry over spilt milk. He has got to be brave and strong. The first 15 minutes I thought he was a bit worried about the situation but then he grew into the game.

“He got a few good balls in, and that’s what I asked him to do. He tired towards the end a little bit, that’s why we made a couple of changes.

“I’m not sitting here just blaming Adam. He’s a young man learning his trade and he will know not to do it again.”

Lowe continued: “I have said to the group in there [the dressing room] there was a lot of decisionmaking today that weren’t quite right, especially the first 20 minutes.

“Whether the confidence was knocked a little bit because we gifted them a goal, we couldn’t get going and settled.

“I think that was what it was. “What we wanted to do after that was to regroup, and we did to an extent in terms of trying to play but we just couldn’t find that killer instinct.”

Argyle face Milton Keynes Dons tomorrow night, kick-off 7pm.