Match Report - Battling Wolves Grab A Point

By Scott Cooper
August 10 2006

PLYMOUTH 1-1 WOLVES - The Mick McCarthy regime got off to a decent start away at Home Park today. Wolves trailed by a goal to nil at the break, but a second half strike from O'Connor earned Wolves an early point.

Rarely would the fans give the players a standing ovation at the end of the game which resulted in a point against one of the leagues weaker sides, however that is exactly what happened at Home Park this afternoon.

The ovation - and constant chants of "Super Mick McCarthy" - rang out from the Barn Park stand for one reason alone...Pride.

The pride this afternoon was back in old gold after being absent for such a long time. In all a massive seven players made debuts whilst Mick McCarthy has been in the job just two weeks after picking up the pieces of a shattered club following the Hoddle disaster.

The Wolves weren't great but they battled, worked hard and earned a value point against a determined and quick Plymouth Argyle side.

The stats won't look pretty. Argyle had most of the ball and had countless corners, but the reason for the corners was because a Wolves player was determined to get in the way of any goal-bound shot, and those that weren't blocked eventually were by an inspired Matt Murray.

Throughout the 90 minutes McCarthy handed league debuts to Gary Breen, Kevin O'Connor, Jamie Clapham, Lewis Gobern, Jay Bothroyd, Craig Davies and Karl Henry and the lads did themselves proud.

It was their first ever performance together and it was 20 year old Kevin O'Connor's deflected 18 yard shot which looped up over the head of McCormick in the Argyle goal to level the scores following a first half Barry Hayles opener.

Speaking after the game the Wolves boss admitted he was happy with a point from his first game in charge. "In intense heat the lads worked hard to earn that point," said McCarthy. "We got the draw through scrapping it out. You are not always going to be able to go away from home and play pretty, free-flowing football. But we defended resolutely and played some decent stuff at times."

The big earners and the "Ferrari Culture" as Sir Jack called it two weeks ago is now over. The youngsters are desperate to play for the shirts and it showed. O'Connor was tenacious in his first ever start, Henry looked composed, Clapham was busy, Bothroyd strong, Breen comfortable, Davies bright and Gobern should be starting on Tuesday after replacing a tiring Rohan Ricketts late on.

The likes of Rosa, Olofinjana, McNamara, Frankowski and some new recruits (says McCarthy) will continue to add steel to the squad and there was nothing better than seeing Wolves battle to a point than flatter to deceive as has been the pattern for the last few years.

The McCarthy era has arrived and although it's still early days, the signs are encouraging.

PLYMOUTH 1-1 WOLVES