New midfield role suits Plymouth Argyle captain Conor Hourihane
CAPTAIN Conor Hourihane admitted he revelled in a more attacking midfield role when Plymouth Argyle beat Barnet 2-1 at Home Park on Saturday.
Hourihane scored the first goal, a stunning 36th minute equaliser, and set up the second one for Ronan Murray as the Pilgrims came from behind to win the crucial League Two tussle.
Argyle moved up one position from the bottom-of-the-table, and are now only a point behind 21st-placed Barnet.
Manager John Sheridan tried out new tactics against Barnet, playing a 4-3-3 formation for the first time, and it paid off.
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The Pilgrims produced their best performance under Sheridan, with Lee Cox playing the deepest of the midfield trio.
That allowed Hourihane and Andres Gurrieri, who made his first start for two-and-a-half months, to push into attacking positions.
Hourihane told Herald Sport: "Playing 4-3-3 suits me a lot better.
"If the gaffer plays 4-4-2 and I'm playing, it's no problem as well, but I do like 4-3-3. It lets me get in the box a bit more, and make forward runs to push us up the pitch.
"It was a good result for us and we will enjoy training this week and go to (League Two leaders) Gillingham on Saturday with a lot of confidence."
Argyle started strongly against Barnet, pressing the opposition high up the pitch and winning the ball back.
But sloppy defending from the Pilgrims allowed striker Jake Hyde to put Barnet into the lead in the 21st minute. Hourihane said: "It was a shocking goal to concede – really, really poor.
"We started the game well and were on top. I think it was probably the first time they had got into our penalty area.
"It was not good enough, but we dug in and got the equaliser. Then we got a nice early goal in the second half, which we don't get often.
"We deserved to win it. We had the better chances and put in a good performance."
Hourihane's equaliser against Barnet was his fifth goal of the season, and put him joint top of Argyle's scoring chart with Paris Cowan-Hall.
The 22-year-old midfielder netted only two times in 42 appearances last term, but has increased that tally to five from 38 games in the current campaign.
Hourihane said: "I'm delighted. I wanted to get more goals this season and they are coming slowly."
Murray's winning goal for Argyle against Barnet came in the 48th minute and was the first of his loan spell from Championship club Ipswich Town.
A miscued shot fromGurrieri ended up with Murray and after one touch of the ball he slotted past former Argyle 'keeper Graham Stack from close range.
Hourihane said: "Ronan had to be in the right position and he took it well. We probably could have had a couple more towards the end, but it wasn't to be. We still got the three points."
Argyle have five more matches at Home Park this season, starting against Capital One Cup beaten finalists Bradford City next Tuesday.
They will be followed by visits from four teams chasing either automatic promotion or a play-off place – Fleetwood Town, Exeter City, Cheltenham Town and Rotherham United.
Hourihane knows Argyle's form in those fixtures will be vital in their fight against relegation from the Football League.
He said: "We have got some tough games coming up. If the fans come back and keep getting behind us, and we keep showing the spirit and the fight we did on Saturday, I'm sure we will be okay.
10 Comments
by greenmanure
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 8:12AM
“I will still be around along time after Plymouth Argyle have been buried in less than 2 months.”
by scannerman
Wednesday, March 06 2013, 1:18AM
“Bobbybiscuit.....your comment is what i mean exactly.....GREEN ARMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
by Chrisdp82
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 10:02PM
“Green manure.... "Who cares" what about your existence .. No one at all.”
by Chrisdp82
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 9:56PM
“Green manure....... I guess by your comment of "who cares" you mean about your existence. Which the answer is no at all.”
by MikeSpiligan
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 7:18PM
“The doom and gloom merchants are hovering like Vultures again I see... I wonder what they will have to say next season when Argyle kick off another season in div 2 ? I somehow doubt that these people have even considered what a Plymouth without a football league club would be like.... Just imagine if Plymouth could produce a Premier team..... The good it would do for the city would be unmeasurable.... I remember sitting in the Devonport end when the new stadium was built, first game it was open against Torquay I believe.... There was a chap sitting in front of me who was bemoaning the fact that hundreds of extra supporters had turned up !!! Preferred it when Argyle had a team that lost every week, a ground that was falling down and no fans.... This is the sort of mentality which prevents things from progressing.... Yes let's lose the football club and the airport and the speedway and knock down Smeatons tower and sell it to city that deserves it more than us and let's concrete over what's left of Central park and close the bus garage and the station and put up a sign on the A38 saying no one home.... Enough damage has already been inflicted upon Plymouth, maybe that's why so many people have a defeatist attitude.... Get out Home park and embrace what little remains.... it won't be there for ever”
by bobbybiscuit
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 6:31PM
“What winning streak Scannerman? A winning streak of 1.”
by greasyian
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 5:25PM
“dont buy a house in the area sheridan,cos after argyle are relegated they will need a manager who can get them out of non league obscurity !!”
by greenmanure
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 5:00PM
“Nothing fortunate about Argyle's 2nd then!!!!1
Going down. End of conversation.”
by scannerman
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 4:49PM
“Being one of the fortunate ones to have witnessed the 2-1 win against Barnet on saturday, I am ashamed to see a comment such as above, obviously not a Green Army fan and this is the sort of attitude that the club does not need at the present time. Yes, the club is in a hole and I think we have the right man in the position to guide Argyle in the right direction.....UP! We witnessed some good solid play on saturday and that was before and after Barnet got a first fortunate goal. Hourihan was solid in midfield, Murray, and not to mention Bhasera was a pleaure to watch as his defending was crucial to the game. In general the whole team worked well and we got the result we fully deserved. We witnessed a winning combination and it was a real pleasure to watch. Lets hope we keep that winning streak going and keep the negative comments at bay as hey are not needed at this crucial time.
CMON YOU GREENS!!!!”
by greenmanure
Tuesday, March 05 2013, 3:18PM
“Who Cares”