Plymouth Argyle recorded their first victory of the season with a 1-0 triumph over Blackpool at Home Park on Saturday, with head coach Tom Cleverley reserving special praise for stand-in captain Brendan Galloway.
With regular skipper Joe Edwards absent, the Zimbabwe Warrior has worn the armband for the last two matches, and once again delivered a commanding display at the heart of defence. Galloway led by example, helping Argyle stay organised through nervy moments to secure three valuable points.
Cleverley was quick to highlight the influence of his stand-in captain, both on and off the ball. “I thought it was a deserved three points,” he told The Plymouth Herald. “I think it’s a case of we had to walk before we could run. I was never expecting that first win to be a four or five-nil demolition job — Blackpool are a good side.
“Galloway and Alex Mitchell are good footballers as well as two guys you can rely on to do the basics really well and to manage those around them — to organise, to lead. Brendan is a fantastic stand-in captain when the other leaders are not there.”
Galloway underlined his manager’s words with a man-of-the-match performance, finishing as Argyle’s highest-rated player with a score of 7.9. He lasted 70 minutes and showcased real composure on the ball, completing 51 of his 56 passes at an accuracy of 91 percent, including four of eight attempts in the final third. He also contributed with two accurate long passes out of six, and although he failed to find a target with his only attempted cross, he was calm and assured in possession, registering 71 touches in total.
Defensively, the Zimbabwe international was outstanding. He contested seven duels, winning four of his six aerial battles and his only ground challenge. He completed his only tackle with a perfect success rate, while making nine clearances to repel Blackpool pressure. Galloway committed no fouls, made no errors, and displayed the leadership qualities Cleverley had praised — an organiser who read the game well and provided the solid base Argyle needed.
The breakthrough came early in the second half thanks to a moment of brilliance from Malachi Boateng. After a gritty 50-50 challenge on the edge of the area, the midfielder showed guile to chop inside and then precision to curl a stunning left-footed effort into the corner, putting the Greens ahead for the first time in any game this season.
It capped a bright spell for Argyle, who had threatened earlier through debutant Lorent Tolaj, Bali Mumba and Xavier Amaechi, only for Blackpool to spurn chances of their own before the interval. The visitors nearly punished Argyle’s wastefulness when Michael Ihiekwe’s header was clawed away by Luca Ashby-Hammond, while Dale Taylor dragged wide when well placed.
Boateng’s strike changed the tone of the contest, and although Blackpool pushed hard in search of an equaliser, Galloway’s authority at the back, alongside Mitchell, gave Argyle a much firmer base than in previous outings. Substitutions brought fresh energy, with Matty Sorinola making his 50th appearance and Brendan Wiredu replacing Galloway late on, as the hosts sought to hold their lead.
There were still chances to extend it, with Mumba and Amaechi both going close, while Tolaj nearly marked his debut with a diving header. Blackpool substitute Malcolm Ebiowei offered a reminder of the threat at the other end, but Ashby-Hammond and his defenders held firm.
After eight tense minutes of stoppage time, the whistle confirmed a long-awaited first win of the campaign. For Cleverley, it was about resilience and growth. For Argyle, it was about finally getting off the mark. And for Galloway, it was another reminder of his leadership qualities and defensive reliability — a Zimbabwe international proving invaluable at Home Park and showing the kind of form that will not go unnoticed ahead of Zimbabwe’s World Cup qualifiers.