Leeds United (A) | Emirates FA Cup | Foster's Reaction
It was a classic game of two halves at Elland Road yesterday afternoon, as the hosts dominated proceedings in the opening 45 minutes but Argyle came alive in the second half to clinch a replay back at Home Park.
Jaidon Anthony produced a moment of brilliance to put Leeds ahead and Conor Hazard pulled off a number of exceptional saves to keep it at a one goal deficit at half time.
But, Ian Foster's side came back strongly in the second period and created an outstanding goal through Adam Randell to bring the scores level. Argyle finished the stronger but couldn't quite make their dominance pay in the closing stages.
"A real game of two halves for us," Foster said after the game. "A really difficult first half. We knew we would have to come to Elland Road and suffer.
"We gave ourselves a mountain to climb in terms of our pressing strategy in the first half, but we addressed it at half time and spoke to the players about getting up to people and being a little bit more aggressive.
"I thought our second half performance was outstanding. The message at half time was to win the second half and we have managed to do that, but the bigger challenge is to go on and win the game.
"But, I am immensely proud of them again, they are really starting to implement the ideas we have given them over the first couple of weeks I have been at the club."
Foster made four changes to his starting line up, with Darko Gyabi unavailable against his parent club and Adam Forshaw and Alfie Devine both cup tied. Lewis Gibson also returned to the side from injury for his first appearance since Argyle's Head Coach was appointed.
Those enforced changes gave opportunities for others, with two Argyle Academy graduates starting in the centre of midfield.
Foster added: "It was an opportunity for a few of the boys today. Lewis has come into the team for the first time since we have been here, Adam has been chomping at the bit to get a start, and young Caleb has been training really well, showing real glimpses of quality and I have really liked what I have seen.
"It was great to have two young central midfielders who have come through the Academy start the game, that is what we are all about as a club and will continue to be."
Foster has spoken openly before about the need for a squad of players in order for his side to be successful. He would have been delighted to see the impact that Mustapha Bundu, Matt Butcher and Matty Sorinola, on debut, made off the bench.
Bundu and Butcher were instrumental in Argyle's goal, with the latter playing a terrific pass to the frontman, who then drove forward and found Randell, who slotted home past Meslier to send the away end into raptures.
Foster commented: "I thought Mustapha and Butch both did really well off the bench and Matty Sorinola was really good on debut as well.
"We said to the players this morning in our final messages that it is a 20 player game and they all have to be ready to contribute.
"We knew we would need the players on the bench and those that finish the game are just as important as those that start. That's a message we give them all the time and thankfully they came on and gave us a real boost."
It is not the first time Argyle have visited Elland Road this season, with the league encounter taking place in November, and there are many more miles to travel over the next two months with trips to Sunderland and Middlesbrough on the horizon.
Despite that, over 1000 of the Green Army made their way to West Yorkshire, again, and Foster has been blown away by their support since he joined the club.
He concluded: "They were outstanding, again. They really got behind us. I said it at Huddersfield that they recognise the moments they need to come alive and get behind the team.
"But, it works both ways and we need to give them something to shout about as well which in the second half I believe we did. I am delighted that we got the goal at that end of the pitch so we could celebrate with them. I just want to thank them for their continued incredible support."
