Graham Coughlan ‘over the moon’ as last-gasp Rovers take a point

Posted Sunday, March 24, 2019 by PA

Graham Coughlan felt the West Country derby between Plymouth and Bristol Rovers was a good advert for League One.

The two teams edged another point away from the bottom four following a thrilling 2-2 draw at Home Park.

Bristol Rovers boss Coughlan said: “There were two good teams out there, both have made remarkable strides since we last met in September and had I been a neutral today I would have enjoyed that game.”

Substitute Gavin Reilly headed a stoppage-time leveller as the Pirates extended their unbeaten run to five games despite trailing twice.

Ruben Lameiras opened the scoring for Argyle after 51 minutes before a superb 20-yard strike from Jonson Clarke-Harris restored parity in the 72nd minute.

Tony Craig’s own goal from a Lameiras corner put Plymouth ahead again three minutes later but the home side could not hold on.

Coughlan, who won promotion as a player with Plymouth, added: “The two goals we conceded were preventable, but all-in-all I can’t be too disappointed.

“I’m over the moon and chuffed with the character, spirit, determination and desire the team showed me. They have been different class since I came in.

“It was end-to-end, two good teams going head-to-head. There was plenty of action in there, good solid challenges and banter with the fans. It had everything and neither manager can complain about the score.

“We possibly had the better chances, they possibly had more of the possession.

“I started with no grey hair and I’ve got loads now.

“If anyone gets the headlines tonight it should be Alfie Kilgour making his debut. He was outstanding and I enjoyed watching him and I think he’s got a big future.

“Alfie stepped in and he was cool, calm and commanding and strong in the challenge. He did the basics well and I’m really pleased for him.

“Both sets of fans were tremendous and all round a draw was a fair result.

“Like us, Argyle are hard to beat. Hopefully we can bottle that determination, character, passion and pride that the players are playing with and see ourselves safe at the end of the season.”

Argyle boss Derek Adams said: “It obviously feels like a loss because we were 2-1 up with injury-time to play.

“We outwitted them at the start of the game with the formation we played and took control of the match.

“We got our full-backs on the ball, dominated their centre forwards and it allowed us to get on the ball and move it, which in turn allowed Lameiras and (Freddie) Ladapo to play further forward.

“I thought it was another very good home performance from us.

“We should be sitting here with three points. We knew we would score.

“I said to everyone before the game we would score and we scored two goals. I said we would score off a set play and we did.

“I didn’t see them scoring the way they did, from Clarke-Harris, which was an unbelievable strike. We should have made a tackle before that.

“We could have maybe done better with the opportunities we made for ourselves in the 18-yard box in the first half.

“But we’ve added to our points total today and we’ve now taken our unbeaten record at home to eight games.”