“We understand the reality. It’s a daunting task but what I would say is we came so close (in the 2-1 defeat at Home Park in August) so we don’t fear them. We know we can go and play up against them but we are incredibly respectful. They have got a Premier League football club, with a Premier League budget, with Premier League players. It’s exciting to go and take the challenge, and we will go and do that.”
Plymouth Argyle suffered their first defeat in league games when they lost 2-1 to Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.
In their third game since Steven Schumacher left to take charge of Stoke City, the Pilgrims put in a tremendous shift against their talented former Premier League opponents.
Southampton dominated the possession throughout but they were kept at bay by Argyle until the 55th minute when Carlos Alcarez shot past goalkeeper Conor Hazard, only moments after the visitors had a ‘goal’ disallowed for offside
Read more: Neil Dewsnip ‘really disappointed’ with resolution of disallowed goal in Argyle defeat at Southampton
When Scotland’s foreign striker Che Adams made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute, it looked like the Argyles’ dogged resistance was over.
However, they continued to battle away and substitute Ryan Hardie, in his comeback from a concussion, scored in the first minute of added time.
Top scorer Morgan Whittaker had an unlikely chance to equalize, but sent a curling shot over Gavin Bazunu’s crossbar.
Scroll down to see how all the action unfolded at St Mary’s Stadium:
Southampton had 78 per cent of possession with 27 goal attempts, seven of which were on target. Argyle had eight goal attempts, one of them on target, from 22 per cent of possession. It was 9-3 to Saints on corners.
Thanks to Argyle for fighting from the first minute to the last. Southampton certainly had more quality, but the Pilgrims showed a big heart, which will serve them well for the rest of the season.
Argyle is running out of time if they manage to equalize.
Morgan Whittaker sent a curling shot over the bar as Argyle tried to level a great return.
Ryan Hardie is back on the scoresheet for Argyle after dispossessing Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and rolling the ball into the net.
Conor Hazard saved Southampton substitute Ryan Fraser to keep the score at 2-1. We played six minutes of added time.
The crowd at St Mary’s Stadium is 30,559. No figures are given on the massive ranks of the Green Army.
Mustapha Bundu returned to update Finn Azaz in the 78th minute.
Sekou Mara came off the bench to update Sam Edozie on the minute.
Ryan Hardie crosses from the right and Joe Edwards tries to get to the shot, but the ball gets stuck on goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
Defender Julio Pleguezuelo took a knock and was replaced by Dan Scarr in the 71st minute.
Joe Aribo has only been on the pitch for a few seconds when he curls a shot narrowly wide of Conor Hazard’s right post.
Aribo, Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Fraser were all sent on in the 67th minuite for Carlos Alcarez, Will Smallbone and Che Adams.
Mickel Miller and Luke Cundle were sent off in the minute, Argyle replaced Bali Mumba and Jordan Houghton.
Scotland international striker Che Adams makes it 2-0 to Southampton in the 63rd minute with a close range finish.
Midfielder Will Smallbone sends a header just wide of the far post. Argyle captain Joe Edwards was booked after Southampton’s goal after protesting to referee James Linington about something.
Argyle are behind in the 56th minute as Carlos ASlcarez sends a trrific curling right-foot shot past Conor Hazard.
The first goal of the match came moments after Argyle had taken the lead. Bali Mumba headed the ball into the net at the far post from a Morgan Whittaker cross but was flagged offside.
From their next attack Saints opened the scoring in style.
The ball fell to Morgan Whittaker outside the Southampton area following an Argyle corner and his left-footed volley went wide after he failed to make a clear touch with it.
Carlos Alcarez beats Julio Pleguezuelo as he reaches the Argyle penalty area and his shot is saved by Conor Hazard.
Lewis Gibson and Brendan Galloway blocked Southampton’s shots early in the second half and Carlos Alcarez fired high and wide from 25 yards.
Ryan Hardie replaces Ben Waine at Argyle.
Southampton had 81% ownership in the first half, with nine attempts on goal and two on target. Argyle controlled four of his 19 percent shot on goal, none on target. It’s 4-1 against the Saints in the corners.
Saints have dominated the possession and the scoring chances but Argyle have held firm – with a little bit of desperation at times but generally with good discipline and organisation.
Southampton left-back Ryan Manning is cautioned for a foul on Finn Azaz. We were two minutes into stoppage time at the end of the first half.
A first good scoring chance for Argyle as Finn Azaz plays the ball outside to Morgan Whittaker but as he tries to take on Sam Edozie his shot is well blocked by the Southampton player.
Midfielder Will Smallbone is cautioned for taking off his Bali Mumba shirt.
Joe Edwards is having to work really hard at right-back to try to deal with the attacking threat of Sam Edozie.
Kyle Walker-Peters has a curling 20-yard shot saved by Conor Hazard, moments after Brendan Galloway did well to clear a low cross from Sam Edozie..
Finn Azaz and Morgan Whittaker combine for a rare Argyle break forward but it ends up with an attempted Southampton clearance hitting the latter and bouncing out for a goal kick.
Although Argyle initially settled into a 3-4-3 system, he has lately adopted a 5-4-1 system. Southampton attack relentlessly.
Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, playing for a corner, looked close to the post and hit the far post.
The first yellow card of the match went to Bali Mumba for delaying Southampton before taking a free kick.