Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Stockport County: FLW reports as Jack Diamond shines on opening day | OneFootball

FLW reports from the opening day of the League One season as Plymouth Argyle hosted last season's play-off finalists Stockport County.

Stockport County began life under new boss Jimmy McNulty with an excellent 3-1 win against Plymouth Argyle to open their League One campaign.

Stockport opened the scoring just before the 15-minute mark when Jack Diamond's shot from just inside the box deflected off Matty Sorinola and sent Murphy Cooper the wrong way.

McNulty's men then doubled their advantage ten minutes later after Diamond pounced on an Alex Mitchell mistake and drilled in a low cross which eventually rebounded to Kyle Wootton two yards from goal.

Cooper had to make multiple strong saves to keep Argyle in the contest heading into halftime, with the summer signing denying Diamond and Wootton late on in the first half.

The Plymouth keeper's efforts would be in vain though, as five minutes into the second half it was all but game over, with Ryan Glover breezing past Alex Hartridge and curling one in on his Stockport debut.

The home side eventually had something to cheer about just before the 80th minute thanks to Xavier Amaechi's brilliant low strike from a Harvey White corner.

Despite a late resurgence from Argyle, Stockport had enough of a buffer to see them home and dry, starting off the McNulty era with a big three points and a hugely encouraging performance to boot.

Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Stockport County

The first chance of the afternoon fell to Argyle three minutes in. Sorinola broke down the right flank and miss-hit his cross, which Ollie Whatmuff had to claw behind for a corner.

Three minutes later, Stockport had their first sniff at goal via summer addition Harry Wood, who drove to the edge of the box and drilled a powerful low effort well wide of Cooper's near post.

Just before the 15-minute mark, County took the lead through Diamond. The winger darted forward and opened space to shoot, which deflected off Sorinola, leaving Cooper no chance.

Stockport could've doubled their advantage within five minutes of taking the lead with a burst of pace in behind from Ryan Glover, but Alex Hartridge managed to recover to turn his cross behind for a corner.

25 minutes in, the visitors doubled their lead. An error from Mitchell was gobbled up by Diamond, who bolted down the right flank and drilled a low cross across goal into the path of Wood, whose effort was saved by Cooper, but the rebound fell to Wootton, who tapped home from two yards out.

Argyle should've had one back when Boateng's cross found Will Evans unmarked in the box. Somehow, the new number nine headed over from eight yards out.

Straight down the other end, County were denied a third by a brilliant save from Cooper. Again Diamond found space down the right and cut the ball back across goal to an unmarked Wootten, who's close-range effort was brilliantly tipped past the post by the Plymouth keeper.

The Green Army began to voice their frustrations after Wootton's latest effort, as their side hadn't been at the races at all in the first half.

Diamond was still causing the Pilgrims' defence all sorts of problems as the first half drew to a close, fashioning two more openings which Cooper had to deal with to keep his side in the contest.

After four minutes of stoppage time, referee David Rock signalled the end of the first half. It had been a perfect start for Stockport, who were unlucky not to be more than two up, whilst Plymouth had come crashing back down to earth after Monday's derby victory.

Unfortunately for Tom Cleverley, his side fell three behind within five minutes of play resuming. Glover cut inside and breezed past Hartridge before curling a beautiful strike past Cooper to mark his Stockport debut with a bang.

It took 20 minutes for the next sight of goal for either side, and it was Argyle who had it. Substitutes Amaechi and Bradley Ibrahim were both played in behind and ended up in a muddle inside the box, which saw the eventual effort from Amaechi trickle wide.

Moments later, Boateng went close to giving the Greens a slither of hope with a strike from 20 yards out which flew inches wide of Whatmuff's far post.

With just over 10 minutes to go, Argyle got themselves on the scoresheet. White's corner fell to Amaechi on the edge of the box and the substitute controlled well before stroking it into the bottom right corner.

Argyle looked a lot more threatening after the additions of Amaechi and Ibrahim, but it was too little too late for the Greens, with Stockport's two-goal cushion enough to see them head back to Greater Manchester with all three points.

Plymouth Argyle player ratings

M. Cooper - 8

W. Harding - 4

M. Ross - 4

A. Mitchell - 3 (J. Pleguezuelo 46'(5))

A. Hartridge - 4

M. Sorinola - 6 (X. Amaechi 57'(6))

M. Boateng - 6

H. White - 6 (B. Wiredu 88'(5))

R. Curtis - 4

A. Pepple - 5

W. Evans - 4 (B. Ibrahim 65'(6))

Unused substitutes: J. Storer, J. Edwards, T. Finn

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Stockport County player ratings

O. Whatmuff - 7

K. Gordon - 7

E. O'Connell - 7

E. Pye - 8

B. Osborn - 7 (T. Edun 60'(5))

L. Bate - 7

H. Wood - 7 (J. Adigun 60'(6))

O. Norwood - 7 (L. Fiorini 82'(6))

R. Glover - 8 (R. Rydel 70'(6))

J. Diamond - 9 (B. Andresson 70'(6))

K. Wootton - 8

Unused substitutes: T. Wilson-Brown, M. Mandron

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Match attendance

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There were 16,244 fans present at Home Park for Plymouth's League One opener, including a respectable following of 887 from Stockport.

Tom Cleverley reacts as Plymouth Argyle open league season with defeat

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Speaking to the press post-match, Plymouth boss Cleverley said: "It's a really painful defeat — everyone's hurting inside that dressing room.

"We've had a lot of optimism around the place for a long time and that wasn't the start to the league campaign we had planned.

"Focusing on ourselves first and foremost, I thought the intensity of the duels, the things that made us really consistent, were down.

"I thought that the goals were really disappointing ones to concede at key moments — really disappointing.

"The flow of the game, the control of the game, was certainly with them, but sometimes that's fine, and you get through those periods, but yeah, they had control of the game, we were a little bit late with the press.

"When we got into areas to regain we didn't then commit to the duel, we lost duels, we lost second balls, we conceded soft goals.

"I think it's a performance where, focusing on ourselves, there's a lot to do and everyone looks internally at these moments. That's why we're a group that can suffer setbacks and come out the other side.

"Looking away from us, I think we were up against a very good opponent who played very well today as well."

Jimmy McNulty 'grateful' for winning start as Stockport boss

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Speaking to the press post-match, Stockport boss McNulty said: "I'm pleased, of course, but mainly for the team rather than for myself or my start. It's about the team's start in a new moment for the team.

"I thought we showed a high level of bravery today. We were willing to take on risks to go and chase rewards in what has been a fortress, of course, against a team that is on the move with momentum.

"[Plymouth are] coached very well by a good young coach. I really do like his team and how he coaches and how he handles himself — we feel very happy with what we've done here today.

"Today, it's the big kick-off, isn't it? In a bit of a cauldron. I was excited to come here and see what the Green Army were up to on the day, and they didn't let their team down, and we're very grateful for the result we take away today.

"He [Diamond] is a brilliant player, I feel very grateful to have him. I thought he was amazing today, supported by a lot of movement from his teammates also in what was an amazing team performance - it's all about the players today."