Argyle beaten but not broken in cup exit to Swindon

Swindon Town 2
Barthram 19, Ajose 46

Plymouth Argyle 1
Blackman 6

Johnstone's Paint Trophy 2nd Round, Tuesday 8 October 2013

It started well. Andre Blackman's first goal for the Pilgrims gave Argyle the lead at the League One club after six minutes.

They ended the cup tie strongly too and might have sneaked an unlikely equaliser late on to take the game to penalties.

But in between, Swindon showed that the League One/Two divide can prove significant in terms of class.

Jack Barthram headed the Robins' level midway through the first half and Nick Ajose supplied what turned out to be the winner a minute into the second half.

Swindon's pace and skill level troubled Plymouth who nevertheless showed plenty of determination to remain in the game until the final whistle, despite the home side's possession football.

John Sheridan had made six changes to his starting line-up wounded by defeat at Exeter on Saturday. Out went the rested Paul Wotton, Guy Branston, Marvin Morgan and Lewis Alessandra; Luke McCormick and Hamza Bencherif dropped to the bench; in came Jake Cole in goal, Neal Trotman and Max Blanchard in defence, Luke Young and Blackman in midfield and Reuben Reid up front.

The change of personnel and competition provided what was perhaps a necessary respite from a frustrating League Two run, and although they could not prevent a fifth consecutive defeat, they were tested against superior opposition and did not come up far short.

With the FA Cup the only remaining knockout competition for Argyle to look forward to now, it will be back to league action on Saturday when Portsmouth arrive at Home Park.

Swindon Town (4-3-3): 25 Tyrell Belford; 5 Grant Hall, 22 Darren Ward (capt), 29 Raphael Branco; 3 Nathan Byrne, 33 Nick Ajose, 4 Massimo Luongo, 23 Jack Barthram (12 Dany N'Guessan
69); 19 Louis Thompson (24 Lee Cox 65), 11 Adam Pritchard, 34 Mohammed Elgabas (9 Nile Ranger 83). Substitutes (not used): 15 Yaser Kasim, 17 Connor Waldon.

Booked: Branco 78.

Plymouth Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Jake Cole; 4 Maxime Blanchard, 16 Neal Trotman, 17 Curtis Nelson, 28 Jamie Reckord (2 Durrell Berry 58); 8 Romuald Boco, 14 Luke Young (20 Hamza Bencerif 69), 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 3 Andre Blackman; 19 Paul Hayes (18 Tyler Harvey 58), 9 Reuben Reid. Substitutes (not used): 23 Luke McCormick (gk), 27 Andres Gurrieri.

Referee: James Linington.

Attendance: 4,211 (364 away)