PLYMOUTH Argyle Ladies’ management duo Trevor Rodd and Dave Leonard have had a lot to ponder following last week’s 5-3 win over C&K Basildon before they travel to league leaders Coventry United on Sunday.
Argyle have bad memories playing Coventry. In their relegation season, the Greens were humbled 4-0 and 11-0 and last season it was Coventry who ended the Pilgrims’ great League Cup campaign when beating them 3-0.
What must be worrying both Rodd and Leonard is the team’s defensive frailties.
Despite being without injured top scorer Natasha Knapman, Argyle always look as if they can score a hat-full of goals.
But last week they found a way to concede three late bizarre goals against C&K Basildon.
Rodd said: “We told the girls before the match that due to us only playing one pre-season game this was considered as our last pre-season fixture. It was very difficult right after a match like that to say anything constructive.
“As a manager it is our responsibility to see we iron out the little things and I thought we had eradicated that but obviously not. I know Dave (Leonard) issued some strong words to the players after the match, hopefully everybody took that on board.”
The good news for Argyle is that England under-20 international Jessica Jones has finally received international clearance and goes straight in the squad for the visit to Coventry.
Jones had been playing professional football for Foothills of Calgary in the Women’s Soccer League against some of the top players in the world.
The visit to Coventry heralds a period of four straight away games.
After this weekend’s trip to the Midlands, they travel to Queens Park Rangers before visiting Portsmouth in the Dockyard derby. They then play a Devon Senior cup tie at Bideford before hosting Cardiff City on October 25.
Argyle (from): Lyndsay Rogers, Becca Wakley, Mollie Taylor, Ebony Dover, Kate Middleton, Stephen Beck, Helen Bleazard, Kayley Lane, Zoe Cunningham, Becky Dandridge, Amber Pollock, Darcey Hepworth, Faye Ivall, Tamsin Medd-Gill, Jessica Jones.
Meanwhile, Plymouth Argyle Development are also on the road with a visit to Weston Mendip which is followed by trips to Weston-super-Mare and Alphington.
The Development team also won 5-3 last week when they beat St Agnes after a nail-biting finish.
Unfortunately, they will be without the injured Kayleigh Brown, Charlie Rollerson and Abbie Scurr. They also have Kiara Robins nursing a knee injury.
However, on the plus side, Becky Parkyn trained in the week after picking up a nasty ankle injury last weekend. Also back in training is the experienced Rachel Javan.
Manager Rob Bonney said: “Jav missed most of the pre=season and has only just returned to training in the last couple of weeks but it’s great to have her back in the group.”
Argyle Development Squad (from): Amy Darnley, Kelly Vinnicombe, Hannah Brock, Shania Fenlon, Lucy Solloway, Nicola Champion, Gabi Alphous, Alex Hugh, Maya Ridge, Sally Salter, Jodie Randall, Becky Parkyn, Vicki Fannon, Morgan Friend. Rachel Javan, Kiara Robins.