Plymouth Argyle

Pilgrims to face Real in friendly
Plymouth Argyle are to face Real Madrid in a glamorous pre-season friendly. Ian Holloway's side will face the nine-times European Champions on 21 July at the Franz Fekete Stadium in Kapfenberg, Austria. The friendly was arranged after Argyle agreed to let Madrid use a training camp in Austria that had already been booked up by the Pilgrims. The Pilgrims will now be based at the nearby spa resort of Loipersdorf, with the tour operators picking up the bill. Plymouth manager Ian Holloway is thrilled by the prospect of facing Real. \"It will be an education for our lot,\" Holloway said. \"Even if we play against their young lads, it will be very good. \"Whatever side they put out, they will have some really good players. It's a fantastic opportunity for my players. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. \"It is fantastic. We will get amongst them and it will be something that my lads will never forget.\"

Young keeper signs for Plymouth
Plymouth have signed 21-year-old goalkeeper Josh Clapham on a 12-month deal after he impressed during the Pilgrims' pre-season tour. Clapham was first-choice keeper for Plymouth University and recommended to the club by former Argyle player Fred Binney, who coached the 21-year-old. The Bristol-born keeper impressed against Grays Athletic and then went on the pre-season tour of Austria. And he has impressed boss Ian Holloway enough to earn a full-time deal.

Plymouth 1-1 Wolverhampton
An own goal from Matthias Doumbe saw Wolves earn a point at Plymouth as both sides stuttered to an unconvincing draw at Home Park. Veteran striker Barry Hayles had given Plymouth the lead on his debut when he scored with a right-foot shot. But, just 90 seconds into the second half, a shot from Kevin O'Connor was deflected by Doumbe into his own net. Wolves keeper Matt Murray saved from David Norris late on to keep matters level in an uninspiring encounter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth boss Ian Holloway: \"I was very proud of the lads - I haven't been here long and I was very pleased. \"It was a very emotional day for me, because of the reception I got. The crowd here are absolutely marvellous. \"If you look at the stats, we had more chances than them but didn't convert them - on another day we might have.\" Wolves boss Mick McCarthy: \"You would expect some gloom, doom and apathy about the club after losing 12 players. \"But I think some of it has been lifted by my appointment, hopefully, and a bit more by this performance. \"I've only been 12 days in the job and I was pleased with how we battled. Not many sides will come away from Plymouth with a point.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Hodges, Wotton, Norris, Nalis (Djordjic 73), Capaldi, Chadwick (Ebanks-Blake 61), Hayles. Subs Not Used: Barness, Reid, Summerfield. Booked: Chadwick, Norris, Nalis, Connolly. Goals: Hayles 35. Wolverhampton: Murray, Clyde, Breen (Edwards 45), Craddock, Naylor, Ricketts (Gobern 82), Henry, O'Connor, Clapham, Cort, Bothroyd (Craig Davies 65). Subs Not Used: Oakes, Frankowski. Booked: Clapham, Henry, Edwards. Goals: Doumbe 47 og. Att: 15,964 Ref: I Williamson (Berkshire).

Colchester 0-1 Plymouth
Plymouth midfielder Luke Summerfield marked his first start for the club with the winner against Colchester. Summerfield powered in a 25-yard shot after a poor clearance, although the goal came against the run of play. The home side had seen Richard Garcia thunder a 25-yard half-volley against the crossbar before Karl Duguid's volley was cleared by Barry Hayles. Johnnie Jackson went close to an equaliser with a 20-yard shot but Plymouth held on for a hard-fought win. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colchester boss Geraint Williams: \"I thought we played well, but we just didn't make the most of our chances. \"We created enough opportunities but just didn't finish them off. \"We've just got to keep believing. I couldn't fault the effort, we just have to work on our finishing and learn how to go cold in front of goal.\" Plymouth boss Ian Holloway: \"When you think how far the fans have come to watch a Tuesday night game it doesn't really make sense and I'd like to thank them all. \"I was delighted with the win. Colchester have a right to be in this division and they have done well. \"The boys defended very well and it was a fantastic strike to win it for us.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colchester: Davison, Halford, Baldwin (Richards 55), Brown, Elokobi, Izzet (Iwelumo 54), Watson, Jackson, Duguid, Garcia, Cureton. Subs Not Used: White, Gerken, Guy. Booked: Elokobi, Garcia. Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Aljofree, Doumbe, Capaldi (Djordjic 77), Norris, Summerfield (Sawyer 62), Wotton, Hodges, Hayles, Chadwick (Ebanks-Blake 59). Subs Not Used: Barness, Reid. Booked: Connolly, Hayles, Capaldi, McCormick. Goals: Summerfield 30. Att: 4,627 Ref: R Booth (Nottinghamshire).

Sunderland 2-3 Plymouth
Nick Chadwick scored the winner as Sunderland slumped to a third straight Championship defeat under Niall Quinn. The visitors had to come from behind after Daryl Murphy scored from a tight angle on one minute, and it was David Norris who levelled with a superb lob. Plymouth went ahead when Barry Hayles punished Kenny Cunningham for a poor backpass but Sunderland hit back after the break with a Stephen Elliot header. Then on 82 minutes Chadwick sealed the points when he struck with a low shot. Sunderland's hesitancy in defence which preceded Chadwick's decisive strike was on show for most of the game. The Black Cats were hardly helped when Clive Clarke's debut ended prematurely in the 20th minute as he exited holding his groin. Hayles and Norris should have both notched more than once but neither could finish off chances when one-on-one with keeper Ben Alnwick. Sunderland's Chris Brown headed against the bar in the 66th minute - it would have put the home side 3-2 up, but instead the Black Cats proved all out of luck again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunderland manager Niall Quinn \"I'm very disappointed. It's a game we should have won. \"It was a wonderful chance to get going and turn a corner, but it was awful at times and we lacked bottle to take the situation by the scruff of the neck. \"The players have to take on responsibility and as a unit we didn't do that. Everyone and his dog knows we have to strengthen the squad.\" Plymouth manager Ian Holloway \"Obviously I haven't been here long but I'm enjoying every minute. \"The boys have fantastic spirit. I'm very proud. \"I said at half-time that I wouldn't want to be in the other dressing room. The fans weren't happy and there was a lot of negativity out there.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunderland: Alnwick, Delap, Cunningham, Clarke (Wright 20), Danny Collins, Lawrence (Stead 58), Whitehead, Leadbitter, Miller (Brown 63), Stephen Elliott, Murphy. Subs Not Used: Ward, Neill Collins. Goals: Murphy 1, Stephen Elliott 67. Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Capaldi, Norris, Wotton, Summerfield (Buzsaky 72), Hodges, Hayles, Ebanks-Blake (Chadwick 71). Subs Not Used: Sawyer, Reid, Djordjic. Goals: Norris 8, Hayles 39, Chadwick 82. Att: 24,377 Ref: R Olivier (W Midlands).

French midfielder Friio retires
Former Plymouth Argyle midfielder David Friio is to retire from football. The 33-year-old midfielder left Home Park in February 2005 for £100,000 to join Nottingham Forest. He will now return to his native France to set up his own football-related business after his contract was terminated by mutual consent. Friio arrived at Plymouth on a free transfer and went on to make more than 150 appearances for the club, scoring 44 goals.

Buzsaky return excites Holloway
Plymouth manager Ian Holloway believes the return of midfielder Akos Buzsaky is a major boost. The 24-year-old missed pre-season as he recovered from a groin injury but came on as a substitute against Sunderland. \"I have only just got him back and I think he is an absolutely fantastic player,\" Holloway told the Plymouth Evening Herald. \"He looks like he can pull a rabbit out of a hat and, the higher you go, you need players who can do that.\"

Plymouth v Sheff Wed
Plymouth are boosted by the return to fitness of playmaker Akos Buzsak, who has recovered from a groin injury. Buzsaky is expected to link up with Luke Summerfield who continues to deputise for Lilian Nalis (ankle). Sheffield Wednesday travel to Plymouth with a meagre squad of 13 players after a spate of injuries. Striker Steve MacLean is the latest man out with knee problems while defender Lee Bullen serves out the last match of his three-game ban.

Plymouth 1-2 Sheff Wed
Sheffield Wednesday came from behind to record an encouraging away victory. Wednesday went in at the interval trailing to Paul Wotton's 43rd-minute penalty after on-loan goalkeeper Brad Jones fouled Barry Hayles. Early in the second half 19-year-old Sean McAllister equalised when he collected Burton O'Brien's cross and arrowed a shot into the top corner. And on 83 minutes John Hills crossed for O'Brien, who converted to ensure Plymouth lost their unbeaten record. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth manager Ian Holloway: \"I didn't like the way we defended for the second goal and we got a little bit overloaded for the first goal. \"It probably comes from the same thing, we tend to be a bit too deep at times. \"I threw my dice as well as I could and how I am not sat here with at least a draw I don't know.\" Sheffield Wednesday manager Paul Sturrock: \"We had a game plan, we stuck to it and we've come out the right end of it. \"I did a personnel switch at half-time and put Kenny Lunt behind Chris Brunt and he started running the show. \"We've also hit the woodwork twice in the second half and I am proud of the players. We rode our luck at the end, but we defended very well.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Hodges, Norris, Wotton, Summerfield (Djordjic 60), Capaldi (Buzsaky 58), Hayles, Chadwick (Ebanks-Blake 71). Subs Not Used: Sawyer, Reid. Booked: Aljofree. Goals: Wotton 43 pen. Sheff Wed: Jones, Simek, Bougherra, Coughlan (McArdle 90), Spurr, Lunt (Boden 90), Whelan, O'Brien, Hills, Brunt, Small (McAllister 11). Subs Not Used: Adamson, McClements. Booked: Jones, Whelan, Simek. Goals: McAllister 52, O'Brien 83. Att: 14,507. Ref: P Melin (Surrey). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Hodges, Norris, Wotton, Summerfield (Djordjic 60), Capaldi (Buzsaky 58), Hayles, Chadwick (Ebanks-Blake 71). Subs Not Used: Sawyer, Reid. Booked: Aljofree. Goals: Wotton 43 pen. Sheff Wed: Jones, Simek, Bougherra, Coughlan (McArdle 90), Spurr, Lunt (Boden 90), Whelan, O'Brien, Hills, Brunt, Small (McAllister 11). Subs Not Used: Adamson, McClements. Booked: Jones, Whelan, Simek. Goals: McAllister 52, O'Brien 83. Att: 14,507 Ref: P Melin (Surrey).

Plymouth 0-1 Walsall
Scott Dann struck his first senior goal to give League Two side Walsall a deserved Carling Cup win at Plymouth. Dann calmly turned in from 12 yards with his first touch five minutes from time from Mark Wright's cross. Nick Chadwick wasted Plymouth's two best chances in the first half, firing over from four yards and then heading another good opportunity wide. Dean Keates was off target for Walsall, but substitute Dann was the hero late on to stun Ian Holloway's side. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Barness, Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Capaldi (Buzsaky 63), Chadwick (Reid 64), Ebanks-Blake. Subs Not Used: Hayles, Sawyer, Summerfield. Booked: Chadwick, Aljofree. Walsall: Ince, Pead, Roper, Westwood, Fox, Taylor, Gerrard, Keates, Fangueiro (Dann 83), Constable (Demontagnac 73), Sam (Wright 63). Subs Not Used: Gilmartin, McDermott. Booked: Taylor, Pead. Goals: Dann 85. Att: 6,407 Ref: C Penton (Sussex).

Holloway concerned after defeat
Plymouth boss Ian Holloway felt his side played well in their 1-0 Carling Cup defeat by Walsall - but was left to rue a lack of cutting edge in attack. \"We needed to make more of our possession, but that was a very, very good performance,\" Holloway said. \"If it was a boxing match it would have been stopped in the second half. We just didn't create enough and our final ball into the box wasn't quite there. \"They have had one shot on goal all game and scored with it.\"

Djordjic listed by Pilgrims boss
Plymouth Argyle have put winger Bojan Djordjic on the transfer list. The 24-year-old, who joined Argyle from Rangers in 2005, has not impressed new Pilgrims boss Ian Holloway. \"It is based on my observations since I have been here,\" Holloway said. \"I know what I want, he should be practising corners and free-kicks every day. \"The boy knows what I've said and it is down to him. If he makes me change my mind and I take him off the list, great - but at the moment he is on it.\"

Stoke 1-1 Plymouth
Veteran striker Barry Hayles was Plymouth's hero as his late goal earned the visitors a point at Stoke. Mamady Sidibe's first goal of the season, headed home from Vincent Pericard's cross, had put the home side ahead at half-time. But Plymouth never gave up and Hayles finally grabbed an equaliser - his third goal of the season - with 13 minutes remaining. It was the clubs' first meeting since Tony Pulis left Plymouth for Stoke. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stoke boss Tony Pulis on being booed by both sets of fans: \"I have got broad shoulders and will take the flak. It's part of the job. \"I'm not going to throw the chairman's money away willy-nilly and won't bring players here who won't take us forward. \"It will be a slow rebuilding process. I won't be panicked into doing anything that's not right for the club.\" Plymouth manager Ian Holloway on Pulis: \"Tony left me with an honest and hard-working group of players. \"He looked after me when we were players at Bristol Rovers. He looked after me by the job he did at Plymouth. \"I thank him from the bottom of my heart and wish him the very best.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Duberry, Hill, Higginbotham, Chadwick (Whitley 60), Russell, Brammer, Sweeney (Harper 81), Sidibe, Pericard. Subs Not Used: Sigurdsson, Pulis, Dickinson. Goals: Sidibe 39. Plymouth: McCormick, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Capaldi (Reid 73), Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Hodges, Hayles, Chadwick (Ebanks-Blake 56). Subs Not Used: Buzsaky, Sawyer, Summerfield. Booked: Norris, Ebanks-Blake, Doumbe. Goals: Hayles 78. Att: 11,626. Ref: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear).

Plymouth set to make double swoop
Plymouth are close to signing Dutch defender Marcel Seip and young England striker Cherno Samba. Seip, 24, and 20-year-old Samba, have been on trial with Argyle recently, and both players have impressed enough to be offered short-term contracts. Boss Ian Holloway said: \"Seip's not the Beast that I'm looking for but he looks a good defender. \"Cherno is hungry, he's enjoyed being with us so far, and he's added to the team when he's played - every time.\"

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