REPORT | ARGYLE 0 BRISTOL CITY 1
Argyle 0
Bristol City 1
Wells 82
A late goal from Nahki Wells was enough for Bristol City to grab a slightly fortunate pre-season victory on a day of sizzling sunshine at Home Park.
Argyle boss Steven Schumacher made five changes from the midweek draw with Swansea. Michael Cooper returned in goal and there were starts for Ryan Hardie, Luke Jephcott, Adam Randell and Finn Azaz. Long-term absentees Brendan Galloway and Panutche Camara began on the bench.
An early intervention from Dan Scarr blunted a City break, while the first Argyle thrust saw Hardie cleverly spin his man, only to be hauled down by former Green Zak Vyner. The whipped free-kick from Mickel Miller was glanced inches wide by Scarr at the far post.
The Pilgrims kept up their sharp work with a fizzed pass inside from Joe Edwards to Azaz, via a Jephcott dummy, and the stinging low drive just slipped wide of Daniel Bentley’s right-hand post.
The Robins replied with a corner from the left and Chris Martin met the header at the near post, missing the target by a fraction. City then conjured room for a Han-Noah Massengo shot from the right channel, deflected wide by the body of Scarr.
A delightfully-weighted pass from Randell released Miller down the left on 19 minutes and the summer recruit jinked inside for a shot pulled narrowly wide of the near post with Bentley beaten.
Next, a deep cross from Jay Dasilva picked out Andreas Weimann for a volley into the side-netting before Jephcott and Matt Butcher worked the ball patiently to Miller on the left for a driven low cross arrowed just beyond the out-stretched boot of Hardie.
Argyle ended an entertaining first period with some lovely passing football, culminating in a shot from Azaz deflected wide, and a satisfactory 45 minutes in the scorching heat.
Ryan Law and new signing Bali Mumba replaced Miller and Edwards at the break, as the half got underway with a Randell surge and the ball was recycled for a threaded pass from Jephcott to Hardie, who saw his low effort saved by Bentley.
The subsequent corner looped perfectly for Butcher to meet a volley that screwed narrowly wide. The next break stemmed from determined play by Randell and Hardie, chasing a lost cause for a cutback to Jephcott but the shot was steered over from 16 yards.
The Pilgrims continued creating the genuine chances, Hardie spinning quickly for a low left-footer gathered well by Bentley. A raft of further changes came next, Azaz Hardie and Jephcott replaced by Camara, Niall Ennis and Danny Mayor.
The visitors also made a barrage of substitutions, as the players took a sensible opportunity to quench their thirst. City reacted well to the new personnel and a dangerous low cross from Mark Sykes prompted astute positioning by James Wilson to clear the threat.
The Robins then pinched the ball in midfield and Wells was given a clear run on goal but Cooper judged his angles superbly to save with his legs.
Argyle rested their back trio for the final 20 minutes, Scarr, Wilson and Macaulay Gillesphey replaced by Galloway and youngsters Brandon Pursall and Finley Craske, swiftly followed by Oscar Halls and Alfie Lewis coming on for Butcher and Randell.
As is normal practise in pre-season games, the changes naturally disrupted the attacking flow of the game, although Halls did a great job to block a header from Chris Martin.
The game was heading to a draw when Wells pounced on a loose pass and guided an assured winner into the bottom corner. Ryley Towler also hit the bar with a header two minutes from time.
Argyle almost snatched a late leveller, Law heading wide after a lovely cross from Craske. The final result was very harsh on Argyle but still a terrific exercise as we head toward the real thing, when Barnsley visit on July 30.
Argyle: 1 Michael Cooper; 3 Macaulay Gillesphey (37 Brandon Pursall 73), 5 James Wilson (36 Finley Craske 73), 6 Dan Scarr (22 Brendan Galloway 73), 7 Matt Butcher (43 Oscar Halls 74), 8 Joe Edwards (capt) (17 Bali Mumba H-T), 9 Ryan Hardie (11 Niall Ennis 61), 14 Mickel Miller (27 Ryan Law H-T), 18 Finn Azaz (10 Danny Mayor 61), 20 Adam Randell (16 Alfie Lewis 74), 31 Luke Jephcott (28 Panutche Camara). Substitutes (not used): 45 Zak Baker (gk), 42 Jack Endacott.
Booked:
Bristol City: 1 Daniel Bentley (capt) (12 Max O'Leary 61); 26 Zak Vyner, 25 Timm Klose (Duncan Idehen 61), 5 Rob Atkinson (23 Ryley Towler 61), 19 George Tanner (17 Mark Sykes 61), 30 Han-Noah Massengo, 10 Andy King, 3 Jay Dasilva (2 Kane Wilson 61), 14 Andreas Weimann (20 Sam Bell 61), 9 Chris Martin, 15 Tommy Conway (21 Nahki Wells 61). Substitutes (not used): 13 Harvey Wiles-Richards (gk), 16 James Taylor, 18 Omar Taylor-Clarke, 22 Ewen Clark.
Booked:
Attendance: 5,718 (720 away)
Referee: Lee Swabey