Mariner's reign begins with defeat

12 December 2009 17:44
The hosts had failed to win any of their previous seven Championship outings but first-half goals from Richard Chaplow and Ross Wallace effectively sealed the points.[LNB]Midfielder Chaplow volleyed home the opener in the 10th minute and Scotland winger Wallace swept home a second 16 minutes later.[LNB]That ensured a dismal start to life under head coach Mariner, handed control of all footballing activities after Paul Sturrock was removed from his position on Thursday and given a business support role.[LNB]The new boss was forced to make changes to the Pilgrims' defence following Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Swansea.[LNB]On-loan Aston Villa centre-half Shane Lowry was suspended after he was dismissed for two yellow cards at the Liberty Stadium and fellow loanee David Gray was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.[LNB]Reda Johnson was recalled to the heart of defence while on-loan Cardiff defender Darcy Blake also earned a starting berth.[LNB]Preston boss Alan Irvine was without Billy Jones after the right-back limped out of Tuesday's goalless draw against Derby having sustained an ankle injury during the second half.[LNB]Yet the hosts quickly assumed control of proceedings and came close to opening the scoring after five minutes.[LNB]Wallace collected possession 25 yards from goal and was afforded the time and space to advance forward and drive a left-footed volley just wide.[LNB]Three minutes later, Plymouth flickered into life when Alan Judge rifled a fierce shot goalwards but on-loan Stoke midfielder Michael Tonge did well to block his effort.[LNB]But the pendulum quickly swung back in Preston's favour and they led in the 10th minute when Chaplow's delightful volley flew into the bottom left-hand corner from 20 yards.[LNB]Almost immediately, North End went in search of their second when striker Chris Brown hit a 25-yard shot which Romain Larrieu saved comfortably.[LNB]Yet the hosts continued to probe and, after Jon Parkin headed over the crossbar and had a similar effort saved by Larrieu, the second goal arrived in the 26th minute.[LNB]Brown showed intelligence to find Wallace 12 yards from goal with a neat pass and the former Sunderland man did the rest with a clinical right-footed finish into the bottom corner.[LNB]Plymouth attempted to hit back in the 28th minute when Carl Fletcher narrowly missed the target from 30 yards.[LNB]But North End had opportunities to stretch their lead before the break as Chaplow fired just over and Liam Chilvers headed a corner from Wallace over from just six yards out.[LNB]Both sides began the second half in lively fashion and in the 53rd minute Judge tested home stopper Andy Lonergan with an 18-yard drive.[LNB]In the 55th minute, an inswinging corner from Paul Parry was nodded wide by Neill Collins.[LNB]Parkin then headed wide from another clever cross by Chaplow but Plymouth almost had a lifeline in the 68th minute when Gary Sawyer hit the bar from 25 yards.[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk