Report: Saints punish Plymouth to continue incredible run

In a year that featured the misery of relegation from the Premier League, Saints, now under the guidance of Russell Martin, can head into the next 12 months with renewed optimism, as their push for an immediate return to the top-flight continued at pace.

They had to bide their time a little against a stubborn opposition here, but quick-fire goals from Charly Alcaraz and Ché Adams in the second half ensured the victory that the team’s performance richly deserved, with only a late Ryan Hardie goal casting any doubt over the destination of the points.

With another tight turnaround between games, Martin made four changes from the side that started in the 5-0 win over Swansea on Boxing Day.

Two were effectively enforced, with Flynn Downes suffering from an illness that kept him out of the squad and Jack Stephens only able to take a place on the bench having played 70 minutes on his return to the line-up three days previously.

The other alterations saw Joe Aribo and Stuart Armstrong drop to the bench, with Will Smallbone and Shea Charles, who was available again after a one-match ban, named in the starting eleven, as well as Alcaraz and Adams.

Charly Alcaraz came into the side as one of four changes (Photo: Matt Watson)

Having scored five in their previous outing, Saints began this one with the same desire for goals, pinning their opponents back from the off.

Adams had the ball in the net after less than five minutes, with a neat touch and finish from Ryan Manning’s ball in behind, but the offside flag was raised against him.

Ché Adams reacts after having an early goal disallowed (Photo: Matt Watson)

Seconds later, Adam Armstrong almost netted a goal of the season contender, as he spun onto his left foot in the centre circle and launched a stunning effort over the head of Plymouth keeper Conor Hazard, only for the ball to just clear the bar.

Saints continued to press the Pilgrims back, and they went within inches of taking the lead on ten minutes, when Alcaraz’s dipping strike from outside the box flashed wide of the post.

The hosts then got even closer on 16 minutes, as Taylor Harwood-Bellis met Manning’s corner at the near post, only to see his flicked header across goal strike the upright and come back out.

On the half went, with Charles and Sam Edozie both flashing brilliant low deliveries across the face of goal, while Kyle Walker-Peters tested Hazard with a strike from distance.

Everything about the first 25 minutes would have delighted Martin, except for the lack of a goal.

There would be no breakthrough before the interval, either, with Saints’ threat perhaps dipping a little as the half progressed, even if their control of the overall game didn’t.

Plymouth did have one big opportunity themselves, as they broke away on a three-versus-two counter late in the half, but Edozie brilliantly tracked the progress of it and made a superb sliding tackle to deny Morgan Whittaker in the area.

Sam Edozie made a crucial intervention late in the first half (Photo: Matt Watson)

The half ended with one last chance for Saints, as Adams was able to bring Walker-Peters’s cross into the box under control, but his subsequent strike was half blocked and ended up being comfortable for Hazard to gather in the Plymouth goal.

It was very much Saints on top again when the game resumed, with Walker-Peters seeing a shot blocked and Alcaraz sending one over from long range, as the hosts immediately got onto the front foot.

Alcaraz’s brilliant burst into the area in the 52nd minute almost then paid dividends, but his low shot across goal took a deflection and was well tipped clear by Hazard.

Saints did have a major scare soon after, as Plymouth thought they had gained the lead on 56 minutes. It came from a Whittaker cross to the back post that was headed in at close range from Bali Mumba, only for the offside flag to go up against him – a decision that did not please the Argyle players, coaching staff or fans.

Seconds later, they were even more angry, as Saints went straight up the other end and scored.

It was a sensational goal, with Edozie teeing up Alcaraz just outside the box, and he sent a rocket of a strike into the far top corner to send St Mary’s wild.

Charly Alcaraz celebrates his stunning goal (Photo: Matt Watson)

Immediately, Saints twice went close to doubling the advantage, as Smallbone first headed just wide after being picked out by a wonderful ball over the top from Jan Bednarek, before Adams failed to make the right contact when being found by an Armstrong cutback.

No matter, though, as Adams did find the right connection on 63 minutes when he finished brilliantly under pressure after his run through the heart of the Plymouth defence was spotted by Harwood-Bellis, with the centre-back’s perfectly-weighted pass over the top finding his teammate, who chested it down, held off a defender and flicked home.

Ché Adams finishes Saints' second goal of the night (Photo: Isabelle Field)

Martin made his first changes of the night shortly after, with Alcaraz, Smallbone and Adams all making way for Aribo, Stuart Armstrong and Ryan Fraser.

And Aribo almost made the perfect instant impact, sending a left-footed strike whistling just past the far top corner from outside the area.

Only a fine stop from Hazard on 74 minutes prevented Adam Armstrong getting the third, with the forward then being given a late breather, as Stephens was sent on in his place, not long after Sékou Mara had been introduced for Edozie.

Mara nearly added a third a few minutes from the end, only to have his shot well blocked after Walker-Peters had found him with a cutback at the end of a surging run, while Harwood-Bellis also saw a close-range, deflected strike from a corner turned away by the leg of Argyle keeper Hazard.

Saints were left to sweat out the six minutes of added time, as Plymouth forward Hardie snatched a goal seconds after the regulation time was up, poking it off the foot of Gavin Bazunu and into the net to give the visitors hope of an unlikely point.

Fraser could have removed any concern when he raced clear, but Hazard saved well from his shot with an out-stretched foot. However, in the end, it didn't matter, as the hosts held on.

Quite a year – not all of it good – but plenty to be excited about now as Saints head into 2024.

Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Manning, Charles, Smallbone (S Armstrong 68), Alcaraz (Aribo 67), Edozie (Mara 75), Adams (Fraser 68), A Armstrong (captain) (Stephens 81).

Unused substitutes: Lumley, Holgate, Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw.

Goals: Alcaraz (56’), Adams (63’).

Yellow cards: Smallbone, Manning, Alcaraz.

Plymouth Argyle: Hazard, Mumba (Miller 65), Houghton (Cundle 65), Pleguezuelo (Scarr 71), Edwards (captain), Whittaker, Gibson, Azaz (Bundu 78), Randell, Galloway, Waine (Hardie 46).

Unused substitutes: Burton, Butcher, Wright, Miller, Kesler-Hayden.

Goals: Hardie (90+1').

Yellow cards: Mumba, Edwards.

Referee: James Linington.

Attendance: 30,559.