Plymouth Argyle claim three points in a 2 – 3 win at Victoria Road with a last gasp Simon Walton penalty. But the downside is that Argyle threw away a 0 – 2 lead, Matt Lecointe fired into the top left of goal from inside the 18 yard box from Ladjie Soukouna cross in the 20th minute. Conor Hourihane doubled the lead in the 52nd minute with an excellent volley on the edge of the 18 yard box. But then Argyle’s defensive frailties came to fore again as the home side scored twice in a ten minute passage of play to level the scores, headed goals from Scott Doe in the 58th minute and Jon Nurse in the 68th minute. Damien McCrory cynically fouled Isaac Vassell in second half added time, and Argyle captain Simon Walton clinically converted from the penalty spot. I have to eat my words, I was cynical (and angry) when Peter Reid was dismissed as manager, but Carl Fletcher Romain Larrieu have done a decent job since Reid’s departure from Home Park. Plymouth are still bottom of the league but the gap is closing, only two point separate 24th and 22nd place in the league now, another win could see Argyle move out of the relegation zone for the first time in almost two months! Hopefully the sale of the club can be completed soon so the club can restart it’s rebuilding process. This season’s only target is to remain a football league club for next season!
Administrators P&A Partnership have threatened to pull out of running Argyle after receiving threats against staff and property from a rogue group of Argyle fans. Although I don’t condone threatening behaviour towards anyone, I fully understand the frustration of these fans. Brendan Guilfoyle and P&A Partnership chose the wrong preferred bidder and instead of admitting their mistake, they stuck with Bishop International which is clearly a front for Kevin Heaney despite many missed deadlines. And now the administrators get angry when the new preferred bidder James Brent’s Akkeron Group wont pay the full administration costs. The only reason James Brent didn’t become preferred bidder the first time around is because he wasn’t willing to pay exclusivity. The administrator have made a mountain out of molehill during this administrator, the process could and should have been completed way before the 2011/12 season started! Unfortunately P&A Partnership have Argyle over a barrel at this point, if they did pull out there is a great possibility of the HMRC winding up the club, which is unacceptable now we are so close to a deal to ensure the survival of the club, I dislike P&A as much as any other Argyle fan but the survival of the club is paramount, but if P&A let the matter of their fees scupper the deal, then they deserve everything they get, it was their decisions that have caused the current situation!
Liverpool managed a 1 – 1 draw at Anfield against their arch nemesis Manchester United, this draw means that United are no longer top of the league as local rivals Manchester City go top with a 4 – 1 win over Aston Villa. Liverpool took the lead in the 68th minute from the foot of Steven Gerrard, another one of his trademark free-kicks. Javier Hernandez equalised for United in the 81st minute to take a share of the points away from Anfield. Liverpool were the slightly better team on the day but couldn’t quite make the breakthrough as David De Gea got in front of everything fired at him. Liverpool remain in fifth place just behind Newcastle who have a game in hand over the other top teams. Chelsea moved to within a point of United in third after beating Everton 3 – 1!