Ryan Lowe praises Plymouth’s character after win over Newport

Posted Sunday, February 02, 2020 by PA

Plymouth Argyle boss Ryan Lowe was delighted with his team as they edged back to third in League Two following a hard fought 1-0 home win over impressive Newport County.

On-loan Bristol City midfielder Tyreeq Bakinson scored the fifth-minute winner, turning home George Cooper’s cross.

Newport’s striker Jamille Matt’s header was cleared off the goal-line and Mickey Demetriou’s 85th-minute free-kick crashed off the crossbar after home skipper Gary Sawyer was sent off for a foul on Jordan Green.

Lowe said: “I wanted to get an early goal today and we did, so I am delighted. It gave us something to defend.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be a footballing game today.

“We knew it would be balls coming into the box, whether it was throw-ins, free-kicks, corners, crosses, we knew what was coming.

“Hence we’ve had three days prep and worked on it.

“It’s the style Newport adopt – which is good for them – and they can play football as well so I am not taking that away from them.

“Our lads have been well-drilled all week of what was to come and I can’t praise them enough – they were brilliant in every department. Fair play to them.

“Our pass percentage is very good but sometimes you have to roll your sleeves up and our lads did that today and dealt with every ball that came into the box.

“Yes we are a football-based team but you do the nitty-gritty bit and you get points for it, and sometimes that is more pleasing.

“Was it a red card for Gary? I don’t know but we’ll have a look at it and will address it then.

“But the boys have all put their bodies on the line and shown grit and determination to keep that clean sheet.”

County boss Michael Flynn insisted there were plenty of positives for his side despite defeat.

He said: “I can’t fault our effort and the way they played. In the second half we played them off the park.

“We have had far more shots but they have got the three points and give credit where it is due, they have dug in and it is the sign of a good team.

“I would rather have played awful today and won 1-0. But there are so many positives, the football we played today was exceptional. On the decent pitches we usually play a lot better and in the second half we played them off the park.

“(There were) Loads of positives but frustrating that we have lost the game, but if we are going to lose a game, you want to be in the right manner.

“We tried, we believed in ourselves, we stuck to the game plan and the goal was slightly off-side. There wasn’t a lot in it.

“I didn’t think theirs was a red card. I thought it was a yellow card. I didn’t think it deserved a red card, so there were a couple of baffling decisions.”