Dead on their feet

FOSTER BLAMES TIREDNESS FOR LOSS TO WEST BROM

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

IAN Foster thought tiredness caught up with Plymouth Argyle as they were beaten 3-0 by West Bromwich Albion at Home Park last night in what was their sixth game in 18 days.

The Pilgrims played five times in the Championship during that period, and also went to extra-time in their FA Cup fourth round replay at home to Leeds United, which ended in a 4-1 defeat. Foster purposefully picked a young side with an average age of 22 against play-off chasing West Brom to try to ensure there was plenty of energy out on the pitch.

Defender Brendan Galloway was the oldest player in the starting lineup at 27, while it included three teenagers in Alfie Devine, Lino Sousa and Ashley Phillips, and Darko Gyabi had celebrated his 20th birthday on Sunday.

Even so the Pilgrims' boss admitted his side had put in 'a tired performance' against 'top quality' opponents in West Brom, who scored all three of their goals from the 61st minute onwards.

Foster said: "We are disappointed, clearly, because we have lost a game. I can't be critical of the players, I genuinely can't. I know that sounds maybe just a little bit strange after a 3-0 home defeat but the context of it is it's our third game in six days, the opposition are top quality, they had an extra day's rest than us and I think in the second half it showed. We dug in, we kept them at bay but once you concede the first goal the game opens up. We didn't have the energy, we didn't have our normal athleticism, we didn't have our normal connection of the game.

"We struggled to make penetrative runs, we were guilty with tired passes and all of a sudden you begin to set the press on yourselves against a team who play with a front foot mentality. So we found it difficult in the second half and I feel for the players because they have worked incredibly hard again."