LEAGUE ONE Plymouth Argyle 0 Sunderland 0

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Created on Monday, 18 April 2022 20:37

Last Updated on Monday, 18 April 2022 20:37

Published on Monday, 18 April 2022 20:37

Written by ROSS REID at Home Park

Fourth placed Plymouth Argyle remain two points clear of sixth placed Sunderland, who have a game in hand, after they drew 0-0 at Home Park.

Argyle boss Steven Schumacher said: “It was a good performance, at half time I said we needed to concentrate because second half the way both teams have been playing over the past few months one chance was probably going to win it.”

Argyle’s best chance fell to recalled striker Ryan Hardie who put a first half header just past the post, while Sunderland striker Nathan Broadhead was denied by home keeper Michael Cooper’s outstretched leg in the second half.

Niall Ennis - whose first time first half shot was saved - and Conor Grant, with a couple of measured attempts both deflected a whisker wide in the second, also looked set to break the deadlock. 

Schumacher said: “It was a close game. I felt it was a good game first half the quality was really high.

“We played some really nice football and created some good opportunities but just messed up on the final pass or the final attempt.

“Unfortunately, we just didn’t manage to get that goal.

“We keep making those opportunities, creating those chances because our defensive shape is quite good.

“I was never too concerned we wouldn’t have a reaction after Friday but it’s always a tough game against Wycombe and we had a tough game at Burton the week before but here when we play on our pitch, with the crowd behind us, I feel as though we are a good match for anyone.

“We played with a good tempo, especially in the first half and showed loads of energy, and the lads gave us 100 per cent like they always do so I am not too displeased with that. I just wish we had that little bit more quality in the final third then we might have just got that winner.”

Sunderland boss Alex Neil said: “I think what you can sometimes is go all out and then what happens is that chess match comes back to bite you.

“I thought first 15 minutes we started great and we were really in control of the ball and turned it over all the time.

“I thought the way we set up worked really well.

“We found the spare player but we didn’t really hurt them enough, didn’t get in behind them enough and didn’t link it well enough in certain aspects.

“From that point until half time I thought they probably moved it better than us. I thought they created a couple of better opportunities than we did.

“So we had to alter a couple of things at half time, make sure we fixed that we didn’t want them opening us up and causing us too many issues and I don’t think they had a shot on target in the second half.

“Defensively all of that was taken care of. We had the best chance of the second half with Broady went in on the goalkeeper and I think this game was always going to be decided on one moment of quality, one of opportunity that was going to land, a mistake, a set-play or something of that ilk.”

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