Fleetwood Town enjoyed a dominant showing against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday with Joey Barton’s side putting five past 21-year-old ‘keeper Mike Cooper.

Their high pressing and physicality created issues for Argyle as they conceded twice in the opening seven minutes with goals from Sam Finley and Callum Camps.

A third for Fleetwood, late in the first half, from Wes Burns killed any hope of an Argyle comeback.

A triple change at half time didn’t change the Pilgrims’ fortunes either, with Charlie Mulgrew and Camps further increasing the deficit in the second half.

Luke Jephcott grabbed a consolation in the dying stages, but this was overshadowed by second half substitute Niall Canavan who collected his second yellow card of the match.

  • “It was a lack of quality at times”

Argyle ‘gaffer’ Ryan Lowe certainly made no excuses at full time, quick to criticise his side whilst giving the Trawlermen their dues.

“It was nowhere near good enough to our levels, we were way below par. It is not the standards we have set.

“Conceding two goals in the first five minutes is not so great. Two individual errors, and it has cost us.

“I do have to give a lot of credit to Fleetwood Town. They were on it today.

“Fleetwood showed their true qualities of where it got them last season – the play-off semi-finals.”

Lowe made three changes from Monday’s draw against Portsmouth, with Ryan Hardie, George Cooper and Tyrese Fornah all dropping to the bench.

However, the latter came on in the 11th minute for besieged midfielder Panutche Camara.

  • “I just felt that we needed someone who could handle the ball when it came into him”

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“They were pressing him at times, and they got in his face a little bit. He gave the ball away on a couple of occasions.

The 23-year-old struggled with the physicality and intensity of Fleetwood, being easily dispossessed by Finley for their first goal.

Many fans felt Camara may have been carrying an injury, but Lowe insisted this was not the case.

“Panutche is great going the other way, running forward. He was upset coming off the pitch but that was a tactical change from me.

“He will get plenty more opportunities but they are the decisions I have to make, hopefully at the right times.”

  • “Two Individual errors have cost us”

Argyle reverted to their early season selves, making simple mistakes resulting in goals.

Lowe was unhappy with his side, saying “If you look at the first two goals, and even one of the others, we are clearing balls into rubbish areas. We cannot do that.

“We have got to make sure we defend properly. We did not defend great, and that was from back to front.

“When you give a team with good quality players like Fleetwood Town those opportunities, they are going to take them.”

  • “We are disappointed but we win together, we lose together, we draw together”

“We will need to make sure we analyse it, look at it and make sure it does not happen again.”

Argyle have the chance of redemption when they travel to second place Peterborough United this Tuesday.