Plymouth Argyle 1 v Charlton Athletic 0

I watched a film last night that was so engrossing that I managed to forget all about this poor defeat for nearly two and half hours before bed. Bad Times at El Royale was one of those films that popped up and looked ok, so we gave it a whirl. Not sure how I missed this when it came out three years ago but pleasant surprises are often the best - it was a cracker.

Having watched our dismal showing I had been fuming since 3.45. Prior to the game a mate had asked what I thought of our chances as he was obviously struggling to find enough matches to complete his Acca. 'All day long' was my reply. Jackson's first celebratory match as permanent manager, team returning to Home Park where we walloped them earlier this year and Plymouth on a dismal run of results since we beat them at the Valley a few weeks ago. I then saw the team sheet and news that Famewo and Washington were out due to late Covid tests but it wasn't all bad news, as Josh Davidson would also be missing. It was a sign but with Purrington stepping into the back three with Pearce and Clare, and Leko going up top with Stockley I didn't panic.

In the opening forty-five minutes all Plymouth could muster until their late second attack of the half was a tame shot from a free-kick. They looked like the side I was expecting us to beat. We had played most of the half in theirs and had created several reasonable chances and could consider ourselves unlucky not to be in front. Stockley had missed the best of them with an unmarked header from a free kick which he aimed too close to Cooper in the home goal. 

Sadly, despite our opening superiority, we were miles off the recent form and a number of players were not having a good day. The central midfield trio of Dobson, Gilbey and Lee were all off the pace which meant Souare and Jaiyesimi had seen a lot of the ball but had struggled to make any impression on Edwards and Garrick who looked to have the measure of them. Jaiyesimi's confidence visibly dropped as the game went on and became error-strewn. Souare couldn't do anything right either so it was no surprise that Stockley and Leko struggled in open play.

The Argyle goal was pretty decent when it arrived. A swift counter down our left saw Hardie burst into the box and fire across MacGillivray who did well to block with his feet. The ball went out a fair way and looked safe initially but the onrushing Agard slammed it first-time and found the gap between sliding defenders and a stretching MacGillivray to clip it in off the far post. Just our luck.

A second-half fightback was needed but whatever the half-time talk was, it made zero difference and Plymouth took control. The first substitution was always going to be important and Kirk for the poor Souare looked a no brainer. Unfortunately, the hapless Kirk proceeded to put in the worst forty-minutes of his disappointing Charlton career so far. Nearly everything he did went wrong. It didn't help that Elliott Lee played like he had yet to test positive for Covid and had avoided the ball like it was laced in Omicron. Jaiyesimi tried everything but got nothing from the impressive Garrick. 

Two more late subs followed with Burstow for Leko and Inniss for Clare but it made no difference. Plymouth should probably have killed the game off with a second but MacGillivray at least was earning his money.

So disappointed for the 750 fans who made the trip and for Sandgaard who must have felt a tad more let down than the rest of us having finally got Jackson signed on Friday. In his pre-match Charlton TV message he was a bit blaise about the January transfer window and I noted that his previous mention of "a minimum of two loans" was now "a minimum of one." He also suggested that the priority was central defence. We have certainly been short there due to injuries but with Inniss returning yesterday (hopefully not for another handful of games only) and Lavelle also getting closer, I would hope that the priority is that second goal-scorer because without one I don't see any chance of the play-offs and we are going to have to have more than Stockley if we are to have any chance of a promotion challenge next year, which I will remind you will be Year 3 of Sandgaard's Five Year Plan for the Premier League.

When you look at our player selection and performances so far under Jacko, it becomes clearer that we have a bunch of players who are nearing the end of their careers and for whom we need better. Arter was a decent loan risk but an expensive flop. Gunter and Watson cannot be relied on any longer for a full campaign and we need to re-examine our wide options. We paid too much to let Kirk go, although his performances since he arrived could convince you into thinking he did a deal with Crewe in order to bring them much needed revenue and then get back on the cheap as soon as possible. Blackett-Taylor is another puzzle. Desperate to win a contract as he showed blistering pace and threat to earn one. Since he got it, it's as if he no longer needs to push himself and he has looked a hopelessly different player. Perhaps he has a knock but I wasn't surprised to see he didn't even make the bus yesterday.

The Christmas and New Year period are rarely good for us and we started badly yesterday. Frankly, I would take a Covid break rather than watch us stutter through it as looks possible. AFC Wimbledon on Boxing Day suddenly looks a huge challenge and I can see party-poopers Gillingham managing to finally win another game when they pull up on 29th if the Covid situation worsens.

No more unpleasant surprises, please....