Argyle draw a blank against bottom placed Accrington Stanley

Plymouth Argyle 0

Accrington Stanley 0

Sky Bet League 2, Saturday 28 September 2013

A point earned perhaps in the wake of two straight defeats, but it was not what manager John Sheridan was looking for.

Acrrington arrived at Home Park having managed a single point from their opening eight league games - a side seemingly in some crisis. The odds looked good.

The goals though, seem to have dried up for the Pilgrims.

John Sheridan made two changes from last weekend's defeat at Scunthorpe: Curtis Nelson came in at right back for Durrell Berry who was laid low with a virus, and the experienced Paul Wotton made his first start since sustaining an injury in the opening-day defeat at Southend, replacing Neal Trotman at centre back. Meanwhile 22-year-old skipper Conor Hourihane and 20-year-old Curtis Nelson were making their 100th appearances for Argyle.

The Greens began well; chances for Marvin Morgan - who forced a good save from Marcus Bettinelli - and former Stanley man Romy Boco - who hit the post - came and went. Plymouth continued to create positive openings in the first half, with Stanley going close themselves through striker Shay McCartan, but the deadlock remained.

The second half began with Argyle resuming their attacking threat; but as the game moved on, Accrington sensed an opportunity to sneak a much-needed victory. Will Hatfield twice broke through the Argyle defence but couldn't convert. Andres Gurrieri came on a substitute late in the game for Plymouth, but the scoreboard remained untroubled and Argyle will have to look to a certain local derby next Saturday lunchtime to spark their season back into life.

The Pilgrims are Exeter-bound next Saturday.

Plymouth Argyle (4-4-2): 23 Luke McCormick; 17 Curtis Nelson, 15 Paul Wotton, 5 Guy Branston, 28 Jamie Reckord; 7 Lewis Alessandra (27 Andres Gurrieri 84), 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 20 Hamza Bencherif (14 Luke Young 60), 8 Rommy Boco; 9 Reuben Reid (18 Tyler Harvey 71), 10 Marvin Morgan. Substitutes (not used): 1 Jake Cole, 3 Andre Blackman, 4 Maxime Blanchard, 16 Neal Trotman.

Booked: Morgan 75,Branston 80.

Accrington Stanley (4-4-2): 26 Marcus Bettinelli; 16 Nicky Hunt, 5 Tom Aldred, 25 Rob Atkinson, 27 Lee Naylor; 12 George Miller, 2 Peter Murphy, 4 Luke Joyce (capt), 10 Will Hatfield; 7 Shay McCartan (17 James Gray 70), 24 Kayode Odejayi. Substitutes (not used): 8 Michael Richardson, 11 Kal Nasismith, 14 Luke Clark, 15 Piero Mingoia, 20 Josh Windass, 23 Connor Mahoney.

Booked: Aldred 3, Hatfield 59, Hunt 87.

Referee: Fred Graham.

Attendance: 6,180 (39 away)

For a full match report visit http://www.pafc.co.uk