Neil Dewsnip disappointed as Plymouth held in thrilling six-goal Watford draw

Posted Tuesday, January 02, 2024 by PA

Plymouth director of football Neil Dewsnip was disappointed to not take all three points from managerless Argyle’s thrilling 3-3 Championship draw with 10th-placed Watford at a rain-drenched Home Park.

Finn Azaz, 13-goal top-scorer Morgan Whittaker and Ryan Hardie scored for Argyle to give them a first-half lead.

Ryan Andrews levelled in the second half to add to first-half goals from Edo Kayembe and Ismael Kone.

Dewsnip – in charge of first-team affairs until a new boss is appointed – said: “Watford keeper Ben Hamer made two incredible saves at the end of the game. Credit to the keeper, they are two top-class saves to stop us winning the game.

“There was just one thing missing today. We want to win. We seem to be having the same conversation, don’t we? Birmingham, Cardiff and now Watford.

“The players are playing some attractive football and we want to do that.

“We want them to score two, three goals every game but we also need to find a way of stopping letting so many in and then we can win a few more games.

“It was an exciting game of football and two very attack-minded teams.

“It was quite open, a little too open at times for my liking but I am sure the fans have enjoyed every second.

“I thought we probably did enough, particularly towards the end, to win the game.

“I thought all the goals were different but all quality finishes.

“Let’s not forget, we are not all about entertaining. Of course, entertainment is important but we want to win so the lads are again disappointed they have not won the game.

“I thought momentum was with us towards the end of the game.

“The players who have come on to the pitch have added to that momentum, credit to them, and we are disappointed – not dissimilar to when we played at Cardiff – that we have not won.”

Watford boss Valerien Ismael wants more from his defence, saying: “Attacking-wise we played well but defensively, especially in the first half, we were not stable enough.

“We knew that the transition from Plymouth are dangerous and we had to be more aggressive. We took a step back.

“The second half was better, especially the first 30 minutes. We played well and stayed calm and passed the ball and deserved to score the goal.

“At the end, both teams wanted to win the game but at the same time not wanting to lose it. It was a little bit chaotic but very entertaining for the fans.

“Especially when we come back to 2-2, at that point we need to stay calm, more composure and to stay in the game.

“It is always a learning process for us and in the second half it was better, especially with the ball into the final third.

“We are scoring goals and we are playing well.

“The Bristol game gives us the wrong picture from this period, because we have played Blackburn away, Plymouth away – strong teams at home – and we played a great game against Stoke but the red card changed the game.

“You can blame us for the Bristol game, it was a bad day but the mentality of the players to come back today against a strong side at home was good.

“We have a got a good feeling we can be better and the January and February period will give us more energy, belief and consistency.”