Plymouth Argyle

Argyle will wait to name new boss
Plymouth Argyle chairman Paul Stapleton says the club may appoint a new manager by the end of the week, but will not comment on who the candidates are. "Whoever we have interviewed, or will interview, I'm quite keen their names are not bandied about," he said. "We are not aiming to keep it open for too much longer. There is a reasonable chance of it happening before we play Southampton on Saturday. "We are still reviewing our options," he told the Plymouth Evening Herald.

Sheff Utd 2-0 Plymouth
Sheffield United moved seven points clear at the top of the Championship with first-half goals from veteran Neil Shipperley and Alan Quinn. Shipperley headed home his fourth goal of the season after 10 minutes, with keeper Romain Larrieu allowing a point blank effort to bobble in. Plymouth came close to levelling when Paul Wotton's shot hit an upright. But the Blades sealed the win on the half-hour when Quinn drilled a 20-yard free-kick through a crowded area. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock "The older lads like Keith Gillespie, Neil Shipperley and David Unsworth have driven us on, and I think everybody has something to prove. "Sometimes we play within ourselves and we need that competition from the opposition to get us going. "We have a group of hard-working players who want to win every game." Plymouth manager Tony Pulis "We created enough to be pleased with the performance, but I'm disappointed with the goals we conceded. "We were caught in possession a few times in dangerous areas and there is a lot of work to be done. "But I saw some encouraging signs. They might have had most of the possession but we created the better chances. It was important not to crumble at 2-0." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sheff Utd: Kenny, Bromby, Morgan, Kozluk, Unsworth, Jagielka, Ifill (Gillespie 69), Quinn, Montgomery, Shipperley (Pericard 64), Kabba (Webber 78). Subs Not Used: Tonge, Geary. Booked: Montgomery, Shipperley, Kozluk. Goals: Shipperley 10, Quinn 31. Plymouth: Larrieu, Barness, Brevett (Djordjic 56), Doumbe, Aljofree, Norris, Chadwick (Taylor 57), Capaldi, Wotton, Gudjonsson (Buzsaky 57), Evans. Subs Not Used: West, McCormick. Booked: Wotton, Barness. Att: 20,111. Ref: D Laws (Tyne & Wear).

Plymouth look at defender Gnohere
Plymouth are the latest team to take a look at former Burnley and Queens Park Rangers defender Arthur Gnohere. The 26-year-old played for Argyle's reserves on Tuesday as they were beaten 2-0 by Cardiff. Gnohere recently had a spell training with Barnsley, but Tykes boss Andy Ritchie described him as "about a month away from full fitness". He has been a free agent since leaving Loftus Road in May, when his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Plymouth extend Ward loan spell
Plymouth Argyle manager Tony Pulis has extended defender Elliott Ward's stay at Home Park. The 21-year-old was set to return to West Ham on 25 January when his loan deal was due to expire. The move has been extended into a third month or Ward could stay at Argyle until the end of the season. "Elliott enjoys it here and likes it here. I have spoken to Alan Pardew and we have managed to come to an agreement," said Pulis.

Pericard pledges he will improve
Plymouth striker Vincent Pericard has pledged to improve - even after scoring a hat-trick at the weekend. The on-loan Portsmouth man's treble came in the 3-1 win over Coventry, but he told the club website: "I don't see why I shouldn't improve. "Obviously my fitness is going to get better, and my confidence is going to improve with goals. "But I am going to watch the video and correct my mistakes, as I don't want to be seen as someone who doesn't care." Torquay and Plymouth were left frustrated after a friendly scheduled for Monday afternoon was washed out. The game was due to be played behind closed doors, but heavy weekend rain caused it to be cancelled as the pitch at Channings Wood was waterlogged.

Connolly is backed by boss Pulis
Plymouth manager Tony Pulis has given defender Paul Connolly his full backing despite seeing the Pilgrims player sent off in the 1-0 defeat at Derby. Pulis is confident that Connolly will have a long and distinguished Argyle future ahead of him. "Paul is an excellent player and although the red card was a setback it will not have a negative impact on him," said Pulis. "I'm sure that he will be a fine asset to this club for years to come."

Plymouth 1-0 Brighton
Lilian Nalis scored his first goal for Plymouth with the winner against relegation-threatened Brighton. Frenchman Nalis kept his composure during a goalmouth scramble to steer the ball past keeper Wayne Henderson, whose poor punch led to the opener. Brighton have only scored twice in their last seven matches and rarely looked like equalising. Plymouth looked the more likely to score with Paul Wotton and Micky Evans going close. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth manager Tony Pulis: "I am just pleased and delighted we got the three points on the first time we have gone into a home game as firm favourites. "The pressure is on you then and everyone wants to come and see you win and comfortably. "It was never going to be like that because Brighton are fighting for their lives." Brighton manager Mark McGhee: "I was disappointed with the goal we lost but the general performance, particularly in the first half, I cannot complain about. "The thing I said to them is that as long as we keep performing like that things will change for us. "The important thing for me is what I saw with my own eyes in terms of our performance, and what that says to me is that we are still in with a chance. "If we were losing games dispirited and without any chance of actually winning the games, I would be saying we have got no chance but we have got every chance." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: Larrieu, Barness, Doumbe, Aljofree, Capaldi, Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Hodges, Chadwick (Evans 66), Pericard. Subs Not Used: Buzsaky, McCormick, Zebroski, Djordjic. Goals: Nalis 37. Brighton: Henderson, El-Abd, Hinshelwood, Butters, Lynch, Carole, Hammond, Carpenter, Frutos (Mayo 63), Kazim-Richards, Gatting (McPhee 80). Subs Not Used: Reid, Nicolas, Martin. Booked: Hammond, El-Abd, Hinshelwood, Butters. Att: 13,650 Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).

Plymouth boss signs son on loan
Plymouth Argyle boss Tony Pulis has signed his son Anthony on loan from Stoke for the rest of the season. Pulis junior, 21, is a Wales Under-21 international, but has not yet made his first-team debut for the Potters. However, he did make three League appearances during a loan spell at Torquay last season. "It is a good opportunity for Anthony to show what he can do," Potters director of football John Rudge told his club's website. "Tony is short of players at the moment, and thinks Anthony will be a good addition to his squad." Plymouth have also handed one-year contracts to three apprentices, including 19-year-old forward Chris Zebroski who has already made his first-team debut. Defender Scott Laird and forward Reuben Reid have also penned one-year deals.

Hull 1-0 Plymouth
Hull substitute Craig Fagan's second-half goal gave his side a vital win that moves them eight points clear of the Championship relegation zone. Argyle went close when Tigers keeper Boaz Myhill spilled Tony Capaldi's cross and Leon Cort somehow cleared Lilian Nalis' drive off the line. Fagan got the winner when he latched on to Jon Parkin's pass and found the net with a crisp left-foot strike. Myhill twice did well to deny Vincent Pericard and Hull held on to triumph. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hull manager Peter Taylor: "We needed the three points badly. "We've done well in the last three or four games but we've nothing to show for it. "We kept saying we were relying on teams below us losing every week and that can't be right. "It's tough but we think we'll get enough points to have another go next year. It's been a big test but if we survive that will be as good as a promotion." Plymouth boss Tony Pulis: "We are very, very disappointed. We should have been winning at half-time. "But when you have enough chances when you are on top, you have to score. "Without being too disrespectful, I thought we played really well and controlled the game in the first half." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hull: Myhill, Wiseman, Cort, Delaney, Rogers, Green, Andrews, Welsh (Noble 45), Elliott, Parkin, Duffy (Fagan 45). Subs Not Used: Duke, Lynch, Paynter. Booked: Delaney. Goals: Fagan 55. Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly, Wotton, Aljofree, Barness (Djordjic 67), Norris, Hodges (Buzsaky 70), Nalis, Capaldi, Evans (Chadwick 84), Pericard. Subs Not Used: McCormick, Pulis. Booked: Capaldi, Aljofree. Att: 20,137. Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).

Plymouth v Cardiff
Mathias Doumbe remains Plymouth's main injury concern with a rib injury. If the defender fails to prove his fitness, Argyle skipper Paul Wotton will step in as cover once again. Cardiff are likely to make two changes and striker Steven Thompson, who has gone six games without a goal, could make way for Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu. In midfield Kevin Cooper, who recently returned from a back injury, looks set to start in place of Jeff Whitley, but winger Paul Parry remains sidelined.

Plymouth 0-1 Cardiff
Steven Thompson's powerful header kept the Bluebirds' play-off hopes alive with a narrow victory at Plymouth. Thompson connected perfectly with Cameron Jerome's right-wing cross on 34 minutes to end of seven game goalless drought for the former Rangers striker. Cardiff striker Cameron Jerome could have scored a hat-trick but Argyle also wasted numerous opportunities. Micky Evans, Vincent Pericard and Lilian Nalis all went close while Mathias Doumbe's shot struck the post. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth boss Tony Pulis: "After they scored I thought we dominated the game but they were a threat on the break. "I thought we were a little bit off the pace in the first half but the second half was very different with 95% of the play down Cardiff's end. "The statistics say we've only scored three headed goals this year and that's a poor return for the amount of balls we get into the box." Cardiff boss Dave Jones: "It's the best we have played away from home for two or three games and we should have been more than one goal up at half-time. "With more clinical finishing we could have quite easily come in two or three up and the game would have been over. "Results seem to have gone for us again today and we have given ourselves another opportunity." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly (Buzsaky 80), Doumbe, Aljofree, Hodges (Djordjic 64), Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Capaldi, Evans (Zebroski 66), Pericard. Subs Not Used: Barness, McCormick. Booked: Doumbe. Cardiff: Alexander, Ardley, Purse, Loovens, Barker, Koumas, Ledley, Scimeca, Cooper, Jerome (Ndumbu-Nsungu 90), Thompson. Subs Not Used: Whitley, Cox, Weston, Worgan. Booked: Purse, Ledley, Cooper, Jerome, Loovens. Goals: Thompson 34. Att: 13,494. Ref: R Olivier (W Midlands).

Preston 0-0 Plymouth
Preston failed to break down a stubborn Plymouth side as they were held to a 10th home league draw this season. The hosts nearly went ahead early on when Lewis Neal saw a shot cleared off the line by Argyle defender Mat Doumbe. Brett Ormerod and Chris Sedgewick were both denied by Roman Larrieu before Plymouth skipper Paul Wotton saw a long-range free-kick deflected wide. Tyrone Mears shot into the side-netting before an Ormerod effort was cleared off the line right at the death. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preston boss Billy Davies: "We're not getting the little breaks, we're not getting the little ricochets to fall for us. "We can ask no more from the players. I thought the referee (Nigel Miller) had an off-day, no doubt about it, a terrible off-day. "There were lots of positives. It's one game less for everybody else to try to catch us." Plymouth boss Tony Pulis: "We've come and had a go. Everyone has given it 110%, and we're pleased. They give the maximum, win, lose or draw. It is credit to the players. "We need that goal. If we score a goal it relaxes people. "Leon Clarke did exceptionally well. He's certainly not fit, and that's something that we'll have to work on." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preston: Nash, Alexander, Davis, Mawene, Hill (Mears 78), Sedgwick, McKenna, O'Neil, Lewis Neal (Whaley 68), Stewart (Agyemang 64), Ormerod. Subs Not Used: Hibbert, Jarrett. Booked: Hill, Davis. Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly (Barness 78), Aljofree, Doumbe, Hodges, Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Capaldi, Clarke (Chadwick 84), Pericard (Evans 90). Subs Not Used: McCormick, Buzsaky. Booked: Capaldi. Att: 13,925. Ref: N Miller (Durham).

Plymouth 2-0 Wolves
Plymouth eased to victory over play-off chasing Wolves at Home Park. Vincent Pericard and Nick Chadwick went close for the home side before they took the lead through Hasney Aljofree's fine long-range strike. Wolves responded and Paul Ince had a volley blocked while Lilian Nalis headed over the bar. But Argyle were the better side and Paul Wotton had a decent shot saved by Stefan Postma before Ince headed into his own net late on to make it 2-0. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth boss Tony Pulis: "That is as good as we have played. The lads stuck to their task and played some good stuff, the only disappointment was that we only won 2-0. "We out-passed Wolves by a country mile. Not only did we out-work them, we also out-played them. "Everybody played their part in a comprehensive display. We out-played one of the best teams in the league." Wolves manager Glenn Hoddle: "It's probably as poorly as we have played all season. "It's very disappointing. There were three vital points available today and we didn't go for them. "We didn't show enough desire to defend and consequently we found ourselves 1-0 down. We were never able to get out of first gear." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Hodges, Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Capaldi (Buzsaky 90), Chadwick (Evans 74), Pericard (Pulis 90). Subs Not Used: Djordjic, McCormick. Booked: Wotton. Goals: Aljofree 9, Ince 80 og. Wolverhampton: Postma, Ross (Ricketts 73), Craddock, Lescott, Jones (Edwards 62), Davies, Ince, Kennedy, Miller (Frankowski 73), Cort, Aliadiere. Subs Not Used: Oakes, Little. Booked: Davies, Miller, Aliadiere. Att: 15,871. Ref: P Melin (Surrey).

Pulis explains decision over tour
Boss Tony Pulis has defended Plymouth's decision to withdraw from an Under-18 tournament in Hungary next month. "My reservations about this trip were, firstly, I didn't know much about it," he told the Evening Herald. "Secondly, taking under-18s overseas is not what I would see as the right thing to do. Maybe under-16s or under-14s, but not under-18s. "Under-18s should be working at coming on overseas first team trips, such as our pre-season tour to Austria."

Ex-Plymouth midfielder Bent quits
Former Plymouth midfielder Jason Bent has been forced to retire at the age of 29 because of a serious knee injury. He was injured playing for Canada against the Republic of Ireland in November 2003, but his last competitive game was for Argyle in April 2004. "This announcement is made following the exhaustion of all health options in an effort to regain full fitness," he announced to the Canadian media. He made 74 appearances for Plymouth and won division titles in 2002 and 2004. Bent was released by then boss Bobby Williamson in the summer of 2004, and had unsuccessful trials at Motherwell and Swedish side Halmstads as he battled against the knee problem.

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