Plymouth boss Derek Adams: We are off and running

Posted Sunday, August 12, 2018 by PA

Plymouth boss Derek Adams was happy to see his side collect their first Sky Bet League One point of the season following a 1-1 home draw with Southend.

Graham Carey fired Plymouth ahead from a 20th-minute penalty cancelled out when Jason Demetriou levelled with a spot-kick of his own 18 minutes later.

The result saw both sides earn their first league point after opening-day defeats and Adams reiterated how difficult it is to pick up points in League One.

“It’s always important. It’s never easy because there are a lot of good clubs in the league,” he said.

“We obviously got the penalty kick, it was good play by Tafari Moore to get in front of his marker.

“It was a well-taken penalty by Graham Carey. At the other end, Ryan Taylor gives away a penalty, it was a stonewall penalty – he’s pulled his opponent to the ground and they get the goal.

“You know that you are coming to Plymouth, a good football club. They were here for a point, they got a point and they will be happy with that.

“They had a bit of pressure on us. They started the game well and came at us in the first five to 10 minutes.

“It’s not like us. We didn’t start quickly enough. Normally we start on the front foot and today we didn’t.

“We’ve taken a point today, we’re off the mark, so we’ve put ourselves up on the table. We want to be further up the table but it’s a home point and we are off and running.”

Southend boss Chris Powell said: “Our first half performance warranted a win and even in the second half, when we didn’t play up to the standard of the first half, we were still playing our football and probing.

“We have had two games now and one of the road today where we are playing some good stuff.

“Now we need to get over the line and get that win because that will really give us a confidence boost.

“Theirs is not a penalty, the referee is closer and he felt it wasn’t a penalty and the assistant said it one hundred per cent a penalty so he has taken his word for it.

“They are a team and they work together. But when you see it, Moore kicks the back of his own leg and we found ourselves a goal down.

“But the response and the attitude of the players was first class and we came back and created so many chances.

“We know that our delivery and movement on free-kicks was very good and eventually there was a foul and we got our penalty which Jason put it away.

“I am disappointed with not winning but not with the performance. This is a tough place to come and a big long journey for everyone.

“So if you get anything down here, it is normally warranted. But we are in it to win games and get ourselves as high as you can.

Adams and Powell were red carded following a 40th-minute touchline altercation.

Regarding his red card, Powell admitted: “There are always things that happen during the game. Derek accused us of trying to get his players sent off. I reacted and we were both given red cards.”

Adams added: “I was disappointed to get sent to the stand. What happens next? I don’t know. Obviously we’ll have to wait and see.”