Argyle froze on the biggest stage of all at Wembley

PERHAPS comedian Josh Widdicombe was not joking when he predicted in the build-up to Plymouth Argyle's Papa Johns Trophy final against Bolton Wanderers that they would lose 10-0.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

 

Perhaps the Pilgrims' celebrity fan has powers of foresight because his score forecast turned out to be closer to reality than surely anyone would have expected.

As painful as the 4-0 defeat by Bolton was, there was also knowledge that Argyle probably got off lightly considering the way the one-sided game went.

Steven Schumacher's Pilgrims could have been four or five goals behind at the break, and when Bolton did eventually take a 4-0 lead in the 62nd minute they looked capable of adding a few more before full-time 

However, Wanderers were content with what they had - and who could blame them? Rarely in any cup final do you have the opportunity to start to appreciate what you have achieved before the game even ends.

Bolton soaked up the adulation of their jubilant supporters in what was an excruciating last half-an-hour of the match for a dejected Argyle side.

Widdicombe had walked out onto the Wembley pitch before the kickoff with TV host and Bolton supporter Vernon Kay as they carried the Papa Johns Trophy itself and the match ball.

That was as close as anyone from Argyle got to the trophy for the rest of the afternoon as the Pilgrims froze on the biggest stage of all.

The magnificent 39,000-strong Green Army turned out in force for Argyle's first ever cup final, but the players just did not show up.

There is no other way to describe it. It seems a little harsh to criticise a group of players who have performed way above expectations in League One this season and are in contention for automatic promotion.