Argyle boss questions mindset and desire of his beaten side

TOM Cleverley called Plymouth Argyle’s 1-0 defeat by bottom-of-the-table Peterborough United at Home Park ‘a big learning curve’ for his young players.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

With club captain Joe Edwards starting a three-match League One suspension, and Brendan Galloway named among the substitutes, there was a clear lack of experience in the Pilgrims’ side and Cleverley thought they were punished for being ‘a bit casual’

The Pilgrims’ boss questioned the mentality of his players against a Peterborough side who had lost six of their opening seven league games this season before winning 2-1 at home to Wycombe Wanderers in their previous match, and declared there was ‘a clear lack of game management.

Luca Ashby-Hammond had saved a penalty from Harry Leonard before Jimmy-Jay Morgan, a 19-year-old loan signing from Chelsea, gave Peterborough a 31st minute lead after the Argyle goalkeeper could only parry away a shot from Peter Kioso.

Argyle almost equalised before halftime when a looping header from defender Alex Mitchell hit the underside of the bar. When the ball bounced down the match officials decided it had not crossed the line and a followup attempt from striker Lorent Tolaj hit the outside of the post.

Tolaj also had a spectacular close range volley touched onto the bar by Peterborough ‘keeper Alex Bass in the second half as the Pilgrims drew a blank in front of goal and missed out on an opportunity to clinch a third consecutive league win.