Joe Dunne impressed by Bristol Rovers’ resilience in win at Plymouth

Posted Wednesday, December 18, 2019 by PA

Bristol Rovers caretaker manager Joe Dunne hailed his team for their 1-0 FA Cup second-round replay win at League Two Plymouth.

Alex Rodman scored Rovers’ 68th-minute winner to earn the Pirates a home tie against Coventry in the first weekend of 2020.

Finnish keeper Anssi Jaakkola came in for special praise from of Dunne for a string of superb saves which kept the League One side in the competition.

Dunne, in charge of first-team affairs following Graham Coughlan’s move to Mansfield, said: “It is a wonderful result against a really difficult team to play against. Once again the resilience of everybody has shone through.

“Anssi proved why he is going to the European Championship in the summer.

“He has made some excellent saves, we need our keeper to do that and I thought everybody worked so hard especially in the second half. We carried a threat in the second half as well.

“The cup is all about results – it is not just about performances and overall we are delighted.

“A special mention to Cam (Hargreaves), he was very good tonight. We changed it tactically at half-time to use his energy. He got an assist and it was a wonderful header by Alex – he scored a great goal.

“We play every game to win, play the best team every single time. We don’t look forward, we don’t live for tomorrow, we do everything for today. We will have a few knocks and bruises after tonight’s game but we will be ready to go again.

“I am pleased the next round is at the Memorial Ground, we have got the third round to look forward to against another quality side.”

Argyle boss Ryan Lowe was frustrated as his side exited the competition.

He said: “I am pleased with the way the boys have played their football today.

“We have dominated possession, large parts of the game, attacks, chances, crosses against a good League One team, fourth in the table.

“I am frustrated that we haven’t scored but that’s the football I want to be seeing at Home Park.

“The last little bit if someone can put the ball in the back of the net it will be something special.

“Sometimes you need that little bit of luck.

“I think with their goal they’ve had a bit of Lady Luck our clearance has hit one of their players on the back spun up in the air and it’s a good finish from their player.

“But if we’d have had that little bit of luck, for a penalty, the ball over the line or it ricochets in… we just didn’t have that tonight. I think we could still be out there now and might not have scored.

“Overall I am pleased with the way the boys played their football and I am sure those chances will turn to goals very soon.”