Sky Bet League 1
Morecambe 1-3 Plymouth Argyle
Weir 3 Mayor 63 Waine 86 Matete 90+3
Morecambe dropped to 23rd in League 1 following a 3-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle at the Mazuma Stadium today – their third straight defeat.
Jensen Weir gave Derek Adams’ side an early lead but Plymouth fought back with goals from substitutes Danny Mayor, Ben Waine and Jay Matete.
Plymouth threatened right from the very beginning, with James Wilson’s close range effort saved, before Morecambe hit Argyle on the break and Dan Crowley played through Weir who charged forward with the ball and beat the ‘keeper in the bottom left corner.
Notable chances were few and far between after that, until Joe Edwards’ header was deflected just over the bar on the end of an impressive cross on 39 minutes and just before half time, Wilson’s long-range strike went just wide of the mark.
Morecambe’s best chance of the second half came when Josh Austerfield played through Cole Stockton but his shot was saved by Callum Burton in the 55th minute.
Plymouth got back into the game on 63 minutes when Mayor cut inside from the left and curled the ball into the bottom-right corner.
The hosts could’ve regained their lead when Donald Love’s powerful effort went wide 20 minutes later.
The visitors went in front on 86 minutes when Pape Souare lost the ball to Matete and he squared it to Waine who slotted home from close range.
Steven Schumacher’s side got their winner in the third minute of added time, when they hit the Shrimps on the break and Callum Wright played through Matete who buried the ball in the bottom-left corner to seal the win.
The result sees Plymouth Argyle move up to top spot.
Talking points
For the first 60 minutes we were in control but Plymouth were simply more clinical
We took our goal really well and while I don’t believe we deserved to be in front at the break, we defended well and nullified the attacking threat that Plymouth posed. However, Plymouth got back into the game and made good use of their substitutes unlike us. We made our subs way too late, and it’s quite clear that Plymouth used their subs to their advantage given that all three of their goals were scored by substitutes. The visitors were simply more clinical in front of goal, and the lapses in concentration certainly cost us.
Dan Crowley and Pape Souare both impressed for the Shrimps
I thought Dan Crowley and Pape Souare both had excellent games today. Crowley got an assist very early on, and he did well to drive play going forward. Souare was good both defensively and going forward and apart from the mistake he made for their second goal he could’ve got man of the match. Arguably his best game in a Morecambe shirt. It was a shame the same couldn’t be said for his fellow full-back’s performance though..
The quality of officiating was poor and some may argue cost us the game
I thought the referee had a really poor game. He gave a lot of decisions against us, and it appeared to be that even with the softest of touches he would give decisions against us. In the first half, there was a key decision from the linesman that may well have changed the game. Stockton appeared to be through but potentially in an offside position so he left the ball to Crowley and then it was given offside. However, Stockton didn’t appear to touch the ball so I was a bit shocked that it was given offside. If that decision wasn’t given we could’ve scored a second and maybe gone on to win the game but that’s football for you!
Morecambe: Ripley, Love, Rawson, Simeu (Niasse 90), Delaney, Souare (Mayor 90), Austerfield, Gibson, Weir, Crowley (Watts 71), Stockton.
Booked: Rawson and Austerfield.
Subs not used: Smith, Taylor, Gnahoua, Cooney.
Plymouth Argyle: Burton, Wilson, Scarr, Galloway, Edwards (Mumba 75), Houghton (Matete 84), Butcher (Mayor 57), Miller (C Wright 75), T Wright, Cosgrove (Waine 56), Hardie.
Booked: Edwards and Matete.
Subs not used: Lonwijk and Parkes.
Attendance: 4,904
James Main 