Randell strikes as Pilgrims earn Cup replay

FOSTER’S HALF-TIME WORDS HELP IMPROVE ARGYLE IN SECOND HALF

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

IAN Foster described Plymouth Argyle’s 1-1 FA Cup draw with Leeds United at Elland Road as a ‘good old fashioned game of two halves’ after his side battled back to earn a fourth-round replay.

Leeds were much the better side in the opening 45 minutes but all they had to show for their dominance of the possession and the chances they created was a goal from Jaidon Anthony.

Foster thought the Pilgrims had shown too much respect to the Championship high-fliers, who have not lost a home match all season and urged his players at half-time to play with more intensity and aggression out of possession.

They did just that as Argyle had much more of the ball in the second period and they drew level in the 73rd minute when Adam Randell made a good run from midfield and slotted low past goalkeeper Illan Meslier.

That earned them a draw and yesterday’s fifth-round draw saw the winners handed a trip to either Chelsea or Aston Villa in round five.

Foster said: “It was your good old-fashioned game of two halves I think. I take responsibility certainly for the first-half performance.

“Maybe the language I used around our out-of-possession strategy wasn’t clear, but we made it clear at half-time and I thought we were much better in terms of our intensity and our aggression, which led to us having sustained periods of playing in Leeds’ half. “The positive from the first half

was that we dug in, we stayed in the game when it was very difficult, but the transition from first half to second half performance was really pleasing.”