Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Blackpool: Seasiders made to pay for missed chances in hugely frustrating season opener

Blackpool suffered a hugely frustrating defeat to Plymouth Argyle in their opening league game of the season.

The Seasiders were left to rue a nightmare start to the game, when they conceded with just three minutes on the clock.

Neil Critchley’s side dominated for much of the remaining 87 minutes, creating a whole host of opportunities, only to lack that killer touch in the final third.

It means Pool have yet to score in competitive action this season, drawing three blanks when you take their two cup ties into account.

With James Husband ruled out with a hamstring injury, Critchley handed a debut to Demetri Mitchell, who was preferred at left-back to Nathan Shaw.

The Seasiders were otherwise at full strength, with Marvin Ekpiteta, Ethan Robson, Keshi Anderson, CJ Hamilton and Jerry Yates all making their first league starts for the club.

Alex Fojticek, Teddy Howe, Nathan Shaw, Cameron Antwi, Liam Feeney and Oliver Sarkic were all left out.

Former Seasider Will Aimson started in defence for Plymouth, while loanee Ryan Hardie was unable to play as per his loan agreement.

Blackpool’s pre-season optimism was deflated just three minutes in when the hosts took an early lead.

CJ Hamilton gave the ball away in a really poor area, allowing Aimson to cross towards the near post where Luke Jephcott stooped to head home.

Pool were given a let-off just four minutes later when Marvin Ekpiteta, who failed to clear his lines in the build-up to Plymouth's early opener, was caught out once again as he let the ball bounce over him.

That gave Jephcott the chance to surge through on goal but Ekpiteta recovered well to crowd him out.

If the Seasiders weren’t given a wake-up call by Plymouth’s early strike, they certainly were when Plymouth had the ball in the back of the net for a second time on 13 minutes - only for Conor Grant’s effort to be ruled out for offside.

It came after Blackpool had been undone defensively once again, Joe Edwards seeing his back post header well saved by captain Chris Maxwell before Grant slotted the rebound home.

Blackpool finally enjoyed their first sustained spell of pressure, as both CJ Hamilton and Sullay Kaikai saw shots fly high and wide.

Having finally settled, the Seasiders almost drew level when CJ Hamilton utilised his blitzing pace to surge past his marker before seeing his powerful low drive well saved by Michael Cooper at the near post.

Jerry Yates was the next man to go close, at full stretch to glance a header agonisingly wide of the far post from Hamilton’s teasing cross.

Pool were given a good shooting opportunity in a dangerous area on the half-hour mark when Sullay Kaikai was brought down 30 yards from goal.

The forward stepped up to take the free-kick himself, curling an effort towards the bottom corner which Cooper did well to palm away.

The Seasiders wasted another gilt-edged chance moments later when Hamilton was put through one-on-one following Keshi Anderson’s dangerous run through the middle of the park.

But Cooper stood tall to deny Hamilton, saving with his feet as the summer recruit attempted to pick out the bottom corner.

Pool were unable to find a leveller before the interval, a real mark of frustration given their dominance since their shaky start.

Critchley’s side were straight back onto the front foot at the start of the second period, Kaikai seeing a shot well blocked after Argyle had failed to clear their lines from a corner.

The hosts were then dealt a blow when their goalscorer Jephcott hobbled off after just three minutes of the second half, ex-Pool youngster Telford taking his place in attack.

Ollie Turton was fortunate to only receive a yellow card following a late, rash and over-the-top challenge on George Cooper.

Critchley certainly disagreed with Plymouth’s appeals for the referee to flash a straight red, barking from the touchline: “that's not a booking, It's not even a foul."

Kaikai ought to have shown more hunger to reach Hamilton’s dangerous ball across the face of Plymouth’s six-yard box, but the chance went begging after the winger had beaten his man for pace once again.

Frustration slowly but surely began to seep into Blackpool’s game as the momentum swung the way of Plymouth, who did an effective job of frustrating the Seasiders.

Pool had half-hearted appeals for a penalty waved away on 65 minutes as Ollie Turton went to ground under pressure from a Plymouth man, but the referee remained unmoved.

With little over 20 minutes remaining, Pool were awarded a free-kick in a really dangerous position some 22 yards from goal.

Kaikai, who had been in and out of the game, struck it well but it flew a yard or so over the Plymouth upright.

Critchley waited until the 71st minute to make his first change, replacing debutant Mitchell with MJ Williams and moving Ethan Robson to left-back.

The Seasiders were denied yet again a few moments later as Anderson was thwarted by a flying save from the impressive Cooper.

Pool continued to waste good chances, Grant Ward shooting high, wide and not very handsome from Yates’ lay-off.

The visitors became increasingly desperate in their pursuit of a late equaliser but it never arrived, Plymouth holding on to cap their return to the third tier with a win.

The Seasiders, on the other hand, were left to reflect on what might have been after enduring a hugely frustrating start to the new campaign.

TEAMS

Plymouth: M. Cooper, Watts, Aimson, Wootton, Edwards, Macelod, G. Cooper (Moore), Grant (Camara), Mayor, Jephcott (Telford), Nouble

Subs not used: Ruddy, Canavan, Lolos, Law

Blackpool: Maxwell, Turton, Ekpiteta, Nottingham, Mitchell (Mitchell), Robson, Ward, Anderson, Hamilton, Kaikai (Kemp), Yates

Subs not used: Sims, Thorniley, Virtue, Lubala, Madine

Referee: Kevin Johnson