Adams hails ‘outstanding’ Plymouth

Derek Adams praised some “outstanding performances” from his Plymouth players after watching them knock last season’s semi-finalists Bristol City out of the Carabao Cup.

A 27th-minute header from Yann Songo’o was enough to see the League One club into the second round at the expense of opponents who had beaten them 5-0 at the same stage of last year’s competition.

Manager Adams said: “When we don’t think ourselves superior to the opposition we are a very good side. It’s when we think we are better than them that we run into trouble.

“We had some outstanding players out there tonight. Captain Jamie Ness was terrific and Freddie Ladapo up front was absolutely fantastic. His hold-up play was so good that their two centre-halves didn’t know how to handle him.

“The back four defended well and, while our goalkeeper Matt Macey did not have much to so save-wise, he pulled a lot of balls out of the air.

“Songo’o was great on the ball and scored a very good goal, as well as making some vital blocks. I changed the team to give us his strength and the running power of Ladapo.

“We had seven players on the bench who have all played in the first team. Now I would like a big tie in the second round, either home or away, to make some money, even more than a run in the competition.”

Songo’o headed home a pinpoint cross from Graham Carey to spark wild celebrations among the raucous travelling Argyle fans and punish Lee Johnson for making eight changes to his Championship side.

The Robins head coach was angry that an apparent 81st-minute equaliser from Korey Smith, driven low past Macey from 25 yards, was ruled out by a linesman’s flag for offside against a team-mate.

Johnson said: “I don’t get it. The referee told me Mo Eisa was in the sight line of the goalkeeper in an offside position, putting him off.

“But it was a 25-yard shot and Mo was maybe around the penalty spot. I thought the officials were poor tonight and that there was a foul on Korey Smith in the build-up to Plymouth’s goal.

“Our own build-up play was fine, but you can be like Barcelona in that respect and unless you win both boxes you are going to get beaten.

“Without our club-record signing Famara Diedhiou, we lack physical presence up front and we have problems at centre-back due to injuries to Nathan Baker and Bailey Wright.

“Diedhiou’s six-match ban is hitting us hard and we were nowhere near aggressive enough in either box.

“We also put too many crosses into the goalkeeper’s hands and in fairness to Plymouth, they defended their box as if lives depended on it.”