COX NEEDS NO DEFENCE

PLYMOUTH 0 WEST BROM 1

Simon Cox was in the right place to keep West Brom in the automatic promotion hunt – because he couldn’t be bothered to help out his defence!

The striker, a summer signing from Swindon, netted his first goal since mid-December to end struggling Plymouth’s brave resistance.

He fired home from close range in the 66th minute after Roman Bednar had headed down a left-wing cross from Jerome ­Thomas .

But the Baggies had to survive a tense finale after Thomas was sent off in the 90th minute for an ­awful tackle on Argyle sub David ­McNamee.

Cox, 22, revealed that a reluctance to get back and defend after one West Brom attack had been snuffed out led to him scoring his goal.

He said: “We had a little attack before the goal and I made a darting run and didn’t get the ball.

“They made a break up the other end and I thought, ‘I’m not running back!’

“I thought I would stay up the pitch because you never know what can ­happen.

“Graham Dorrans made a great switch of play, ­Roman challenged for the ball, and if you don’t buy a ticket, you ain’t going to win the lottery.

“I took a gamble and it paid off for me.”

West Brom could have made the game safe in the 84th minute when ­McNamee fouled Luke Moore inside the penalty area.

But Dorrans’ fifth spot-kick in as many matches was brilliantly saved by Argyle goalkeeper David Stockdale, on loan from Fulham.

Argyle gave a debut to USA international striker Kenny Cooper, a transfer deadline day loan signing from ­German side 1860 Munich.

He came on as a 59th-minute substitute, but the closest he came to scoring was a 25-yard free-kick that whistled just over the bar .

“I was disappointed not to start, but I tried to be focused on my role,” said the former ­Manchester United ­trainee, 25.

“I was obviously happy to get on, but I just wish it had been a different ­result .”

» MORE 'FOOTBALL' HERE...

Share @:Digg StumbleUpon del.icio.us Newsvine reddit

Want to Shout?

 

Print This Page

Email To A Friend

Contact Us

Get RSS