Skip to content

Sky Bet League Two: Andy Awford concerned as Portsmouth lose 3-0 at Plymouth Argyle

Portsmouth manager Andy Awford during the Capital One Cup Second Round match between Stoke City and Portsmouth at the Britannia Stadium
Image: Andy Awford: Laments away form

Andy Awford admits Portsmouth's dismal away record is relegation form following their comprehensive 3-0 loss at Plymouth Argyle.

A double from Reuben Reid and a smart finish from Lewis Alessandra earned Argyle the victory in Saturday's League Two clash at Home Park within half an hour and means Pompey have not picked up three points on their travels since way back in August.

"That is not uncharacteristic of us away from home," admitted Awford. "That is the disappointing thing for me. The home form is promotion form but the away form is relegation form.

"It is not the first time it has happened and it is very disappointing.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Portsmouth boss Andy Awford was not happy with his defence

"I thought we'd come through it, the last away performance at Shrewsbury was a lot more solid but we didn't deserve anything here with the way we defended in the first half.

"We left ourselves with a mountain to climb especially at a place like Plymouth where they have a very good home record.

"We weren't good enough, simple as that. We've got to do better on the road without a shadow of a doubt."

The sides were level for just five minutes until Nicky Shorey fouled Alessandra inside the box and Reid slotted home the spot kick.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Plymouth Argyle beat Portsmouth 3-0 at Home Park to move up to fourth place in Sky Bet League Two

And while Awford believes the Pilgrims forward went down easily, he revealed there was contact from the former Reading defender.

"There was contact, I've asked Nicky Shorey," he said. "It was soft though, there was no intent to foul him but they are running alongside him and there is contact and over he's gone quite easily. They are decisions that sometimes you get and sometimes you don't.

"But after that we didn't defend well enough for a spell in the first half and credit to Plymouth, they punished us."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Plymouth Argyle manager John Sheridan was delighted with his team's first-half performance

This comfortable victory made it seven unbeaten in League Two for the Pilgrims who chalked up yet another clean sheet while strike pair Alessandra and Reid now have 16 for the season between them.

After Reid sent Paul Jones the wrong way from the spot for the opener, man of the match Kelvin Mellor teed up Alessandra before grabbing another assist from almost the same spot for Reid to fire a drive across goal for his 10th of the campaign.

The Pilgrims cruised through the second half and could have extended their lead only for Lee Cox and Deane Smalley to rattle the woodwork.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Reaction from man-of-the-match Reuben Reid

Having seen off a side he believes will be promotion challengers John Sheridan backed his in-form outfit to be up there come May.

"Hopefully people will take note of Plymouth and feel we are a contender," he said.

"We were up against a strong team who will be up there by the end of the season. The way we are playing at home at the moment we believe we will win every game. We got them on the back foot within five or 10 seconds.

"We are in a position where we want to be, there are probably 12 or 14 who think they can get out of this division and we have got to be one of them.

"We've got to think like that - we can get automatic promotion. We have got to keep winning and see where it takes us."

Around Sky