Argyle must find an answer to away-day embarrassment

PLYMOUTH Argyle's record of 10 defeats and no wins from 12 away Championship matches this season is bad enough.

What makes it even worse is the sheer amount of goals they have conceded in some very heavy losses.

Embarrassment is a strong word, and not one to be used lightly by a journalist such as myself who tries to be fair at all times but critical when appropriate, but I do believe it applies in this instance - along with countless other expressions, many of which will not be suitable for publication in The Herald.

The worst of the results have not even come against some of the better sides in the Championship. The Pilgrims were unfortunate to come away with a 2-0 defeat at Sheffield United earlier this month, even by the admission of Blades' boss Chris Wilder. Earlier in the campaign they only lost 1-0 to West Bromwich Albion and Burnley and gave a good account of themselves in both matches.

Yet, they have been hammered by Cardiff City (5-0), who are currently one position above them in 23rd place, and mid-table duo Norwich City (6-1) and Bristol City (4-0), while Coventry City (4-0) were 17th before becoming the latest team to inflict more away-day misery on the Pilgrims on Boxing Day.

Coventry scored all four of their goals before half-time and then coasted through the second period expending a minimal amount of effort as they saved themselves for the visit of Millwall on Sunday, while Argyle never looked like getting even one in reply head coach Under-pressure Wayne Rooney addressed his side's dismal away record after the game against Coventry, where he explained the club had looked into all sorts of things, such as when and how they travelled to matches, and even the hotels they stayed in.