Argyle 1 Notts County 0: Match report

GRAHAM Carey’s ninth goal of the season was far less spectacular than the other eight, but just as valuable.

The strike, just after half-time, was no more than a tap-in from someone who generally deals in long-rang breath-takers; even so, there was something elegant about the way he stroked the ball home to give the promotion-chasing Pilgrims an important victory and move them three more points closer to Sky Bet League 1.

After the previous comfortable home win against Mansfield, the triumph over the Stags' near neighbours was a more hard-earned affair. But equally deserved.

Argyle manager Derek Adams had made three changes to his starting line-up from the one that started Tuesday night’s 0-0 stalemate at Yeovil, one of them forced by injury to Carl McHugh.

The central defensive midfielder had been in the wars at Huish and at Crawley four days earlier – indeed, when is he not among the blood and snotters? – and his bruised body could not cope with a third match in a week. Even granite has its breaking point, it seems.

Josh Simpson came into the engine room, with Kelvin Mellor and Craig Tanner also promoted from the substitutes’ bench. Mellor regained the right-back berth he had lost to Hibs loanee Jordon Forster three games previously in an echo of the switch made during half-time at Huish; Tanner was recalled in place of Jake Jervis.

County also made three changes after their 3-2 loss at Argyle’s promotion rivals Accrington in midweek, including recalling former Pilgrim forward Ronan Murray, who had a 13-game loan spell to the Pilgrims from Ipswich Town at the back end of the 2012-13 season.

Among the Irishman’s team-mates then in the Argyle squad that just avoided dropping out of the Football League was Jason Banton, who returned to Home Park with his third side of the season after spells at Wycombe – for who he scored in a 2-1 home defeat by the Pilgrims in September – and Hartlepool.

Alan Smith, whose previous visit to Plymouth had been under rather different circumstances, was one of the trio to give way to the recalls, as was fellow veteran Izale McLeod – a victory for the fresh legs of youth over the wizened head of experience.

Mellor had the early measure of Banton before the Argyle man hurt himself reaching for a challenge and was incapacitated enough for his former team-mate to take advantage. Banton’s low ball across the face of the goal reached Jon Stead at the far post but Hartley, perfectly positioned, blocked the shot.

It was warning enough for Adams to whistle up Forster, and the new man was soon in the thick of the action, heading Carey’s left-wing corner over the County crossbar.

There was not much else to commend the opening half-hour as both teams probed, but failed to make headway where it counted. Apart from the man selling ice-poles, Luke McCormick and Roy Carroll were about the most underemployed people inside Home Park.

Argyle showed decent patience, though, and their forbearance was nearly rewarded when a long passing movement gave Tanner a clear sight of the goal for a low shot that was as close to the target as any had been to that point.

County replied through a break by Murray who did well, firstly, to convince the linesman that he was onside and, secondly, to hook the ball back from the byeline towards the near post, from where Stead, under pressure from McCormick and Hartley, sent it wide.

County went closer minutes later when Adam Campbell broke against a spread defence. His shot from the right edge of the penalty area flashed past the diagonally opposite post, with McCormick’s dive suggesting it was a very near thing.