Luke On The Bright Side

Mauro Vilhete’s 14th-minute headed goal from a corner decided a game which saw Argyle start slowly but end up putting the home side under intense pressure for most of the second half without being able to find an equaliser.

The nearest they came was when substitute Gary Miller found himself on the end of Oscar Threlkeld’s left-wing cross, but he sent his volley wide from an inviting position.

Pilgrims captain Luke said: “All in all, I thought we were unlucky today not to have an equaliser. Gaz has said it was great opportunity.

“It was very disappointing to concede from a set-piece very early on. It’s an uphill job after that. We just didn’t get going quick enough. Going 1-0 down from a set-piece, as well. Then it’s a difficult task and, unfortunately, we just couldn’t find the net.

“It seems to have been one of those days for us. We got into the right areas; we put great balls into the box. But, credit to Barnet, they got a head or a foot on to something and defended well. It wasn’t for the lack of trying; we certainly created enough chances. There are positives, in that sense.”

Although one of the Pilgrims’ promotion rivals, Carlisle United, lost 3-1 at home to Grimsby, a late own goal by Stevenage defender Fraser Franks saw fellow contenders Doncaster Rovers win 1-0 to displace Argyle at the top of League Two.  

“It’s fine margins all over the place,” said Luke. “

“I think the [Barnet] goal today came off the back of [Vilhete’s] neck and flew in. The ball came into the front area and the lad’s just dipped. He won’t score many of those goals, that’s for sure. The ball’s looped in and it’s gone right inside the top corner. 

“Sometimes you need that bit of luck. We haven’t had that luck today; we might have had it in other games. We have just got to keep doing the things that we know are the right things, playing to our strengths, and, in the long run, we’ll fare better.

“The luck was with Barnet today and I think they lived a bit of a charmed life. We’ve been unlucky – there will be other games when we will be lucky; it’ll even itself out.”