Argyle fans came away from Tuesday's 2-2 home draw with Reading baffled at seeing their favourites once again squandering a lead. Indeed, a small section of the 14,000-plus gate booed the players off the field, just 45 minutes after giving them a resounding half-time ovation, for what must have been one of the best first half performances seen at Home Park for some time. Even Reading manager Steve Coppel wanted the ground to swallow him up after Argyle tore his high flyers apart with quality football and numerous strikes on goal. 'They never gave us a chance,' said the former Manchester United and England international winger. 'I wanted half time to come after the first 10 minutes.' It was a similar story on Saturday when West Ham managed to escape with a 1-1 draw in a match Argyle should have won. For the Reading game, captain Paul Wotton surprisingly replaced Lee Makel in the centre of midfield and it seemed to work, as David Friio was given the freedom to attack and did so with great aplomb. Unfortunately it all went pear shaped for Argyle after the break, when passes suddenly started to go astray. Within six minutes of the restart a superb free kick came to Graham Coughlan who inadvertently put the ball into his own net, to give Reading a lifeline. Instead of pushing forward, the Argyle midfield retreated further and further back. Reading didn't look a gift horse in the mouth as they picked up virtually every ball coming out of the Argyle penalty area, as the normally reliable Mathias Doumbe and Coughlan, found themselves with an extra defender between them. Not even the frantic waving forward by the Argyles bench could alter the all-out defending approach. Argyle cried out for a ball holding player such as Makel. Unfortunately, when David Friio went off with an ankle injury, the manager sent on another sitting player in Steve Adams. Reading couldn't believe their luck as they poured forward looking for the equaliser. Mickey Evans could have made the game safe, but hit the post before Keith Lasley finally made way for Makel. But it was too late, and once again an overcrowded penalty area allowed Reading to bundle in the equaliser. So what now? Travelling to runaway league leaders Wigan, is not the best match to start a recovery. But against Wigan at Home Park two weeks ago, a fluke goal was all that was between the two sides. With luck David Friio will have recovered from his ankle injury. Argyle could play a five-man midfield, with Lee Makel a must for a recall, alongside Friio, Lasley, Adams and Lee Hodges on the left. Saltash teenager Ryan Dickson is another left-sided option, as Argyle will need cover for full back Peter Gilbert, who had to face Reading's right-wing onslaught virtually on his own. Striker Stuart Yetton has returned to Weymouth on a one month loan.
Argyle Ladies progressed to the second round of the Womens FA Cup after beating Ashdown Rovers 9-1, Katie Middleton scoring five.
Fixtures - Coca-Cola Championship: Sat Nov 6 Wigan Athletic (A) 3pm. Reserves: Tue Nov 9 Bournemouth (H) 7pm. U18s: Sat Nov 6 Exeter City (A) 11am. U16s: Sat Nov 6 Swansea City (H) 11am. Argyle Ladies: Sun Nov 7 Keynsham Town (A) 2pm.