Argyle full of the joys of Spring

Good Friday became Feelgood Friday at Home Park as Argyle bounced back from their Valley depression to re-fan the flames of their Sky Bet League One promotion desires.

Less than a week after they lost their eight-game unbeaten run at Charlton Athletic, the Pilgrims lived up to their post-match promise to start another streak with a ninth win from their last ten matches at Home Park.

Graham Carey and Ruben Lameiras both netted twice against the Shrimpers, Carey taking his tally for the season to 13 after Lameiras had given the Pilgrims a nerve-settlingly early lead and then rounding off the scoring, top and tailing matters with his fifth and sixth goals in his last 14 matches.

Carey later missed an opportunity to become the first Pilgrim to score a league hat-trick at Home Park for 12 years (Vincent Pericard, anyone?) when he struck a penalty against the crossbar.

The victory – the fifth time in nine home matches that Argyle have scored three or more goals in their last nine home games – took them to 60 points, intriguingly the precise same amount as Easter Monday’s hosts Scunthorpe United, who have played a game more.

Both sides had made one change following their differing fortunes six days earlier.

Argyle welcomed the return of central defender Sonny Bradley after having lost him to illness for the previous three matches and having lost their eight-match unbeaten run with the 2-0 defeat at Charlton.

Southend were able to bring back right-back Jason Demetriou after international duty with Cyprus, ostensibly strengthening the 11 that had beaten Rotherham 2-0 at Roots Hall the previous weekend at the expense of Elvis Bwomono.

RESULT: Argyle 4 Southend 0

For the full  atch report go to: https://www.pafc.co.uk/news/2018/march/match-report-for-plymouth-argyle-vs-southend-united-on-30-mar-18/