Cardiff City (A) Dewsnip's Reaction
When Argyle found themselves 2-1 behind away to Cardiff City, on Boxing Day, coming back to get a point from a 2-2 draw certainly felt like a good proposition.
That said, when they look the lead via Morgan Whittaker on 18 minutes, belief was certainly high that a first away win of the season was on the cards. Whittaker was on the end of Ben Waine’s low cross, following a neat build-up on the left.
Cardiff equalised via a Matt Butcher own goal, as the Argyle midfielder passed back to goalkeeper Conor Hazard, but the ball found its way into the net.
Just after the break, went 2-1 up via a superb Karlan Grant goal, as the Bluebirds’ wideman slammed in a loose ball from a blocked corner.
Whittaker equalised for Argyle on 66 minutes, bringing his season’s tally to 12, and the game still felt like it could swing either way, but in the end concluded with parity.
“Before the game you would have that was a good point but the lads are devastated in the dressing room,” said Director of Football Neil Dewsnip. “We've had so many good quality chances to score; we have scored two goals, but we could have - and should have - scored more.
“I think the first goal is an unbelievable team goal. If you see where it starts from and the patterns of play. It’s something that the players have worked on endlessly, over the last two seasons really.
“I’m really, really pleased with that goal and the second goal - wow. I thought he'd scored, but he made sure that the second chance was going in. [Morgan] is on fire at the moment and we're delighted to have him in our team.
“We've got to wise up a little bit; that's a really unnecessary goal, [Cardiff’s] first goal. We're working really, really hard to score at one end, and we've got to learn quickly not to be so naive to give them something for nothing really.
“It was more of the same on the corner kick as well. I've not seen it back on the video yet, but I'll be looking to see who's forgot to do his job on the edge of the box.”
The game saw Argyle play in a 3-4-3 formation, a shape that they occasionally lined up in this season, but was very prevalent in last season’s Sky Bet League One-winning campaign.
Dewsnip praised the players for their adaptability and indeed their resilience, but pointed out that having 3,000 of the Green Army roaring their side along was another plus point, and an indicator of the togetherness of the entire football club.
“We thought that we could be a little bit more solid,” Dewsnip explained. “I guess in theory we have been: we've only conceded two instead of three! I'm not too sure that's worked completely, but certainly in terms of passing the ball, it seemed to suit us a little bit better.
“It's a formation that Steven played all last year, successfully. The players took to it nice and easily.
“They have this spirit amongst them, don't they, the players? It's a spirit that must come from the fans. There are 3,000 of them here again today; amazing support and we're very grateful. It's difficult not to try hard for them.
“I just think it's the way it is at Plymouth Argyle. We're all joined up from Simon, the owner, through the players, through the staff and ultimately the Green Army.
“We take some beating when we're all together.”
