Blackpool 0 Argyle 1: Match report

ARGYLE bullied their way to a third successive victory, and second clean sheet in a row with an...ahem, towering performance at Blackpool.

Latvian centre-back Nauris Bulvitis – ‘Bully’ to everyone at Home Park - was the Pilgrims’ match-winner for the second time in successive away matches, heading home Graham Carey’s 50th-minute cross.

It was, if there is such a thing, a typical Argyle performance under Derek Adams, with much emphasis on defensive discipline and shape underpinning their forward raiding, typified by substitute Gary Miller’s splendid late goal-line clearance. It can be celebrated as such.

Argyle manager Adams had stayed faithful to the starting 11 that paved the way to the previous week’s 2-0 home win over Mansfield Town, with Oscar Threlkeld continuing at right-back in place of Miller who was available again after serving a one-match ban belatedly passed on by the Scottish FA.

Miller returned only to the bench, alongside, among others, former Tangerine David Fox and the latest of Adam’s 15 summer recruits, Craig Tanner.

Blackpool’s line-up included one of the two Pilgrims they inherited during the summer, with Kelvin Mellor starting in the right-back position he occupied with distinction for Argyle for two seasons. Jamille Matt, scorer of seven goals in the Pilgrims’ final 12 games at the end of the last campaign, was injured.

The Tangerines made three changes from the midweek EFL Cup defeat at Crystal Palace, bringing back captain Danny Pugh, defender Andy Taylor and forward Mark Cullen.

Argyle’s victory over Mansfield had been architected by Carey and, with the Green Army signing ‘his’ song (“We’ve got Carey, Graham Carey, I just don’t think you’d understand...”) the Irish midfielder was soon in the thick of things.

An early free-kick from a promising position was overhit, but he then nearly put Argyle ahead with a typically audacious whipped shot from a tight angle after a little short-corner routine.

The opposition’s first clear opportunity fell, inevitably, to Mellor, whose crisp, measured, shot on the overlap was beaten out by Luke McCormick. The cheers for McCormick were easy to understand; the jeers from the otherwise magnificent away support directed towards Mellor somewhat more difficult to comprehend.