Ian Foster on why it went so wrong for Plymouth Argyle against West ...

Ian Foster thought tiredness caught up with Plymouth Argyle as they were beaten 3-0 by West Bromwich Albion at Home Park last night in what was their sixth game in 18 days.

The Pilgrims played five times in the Championship during that period, and also went to extra-time in their FA Cup fourth round replay at home to Leeds United, which ended in a 4-1 defeat. Foster purposefully picked a young side with an average age of 22 against play-off chasing West Brom to try to ensure there was plenty of energy out on the pitch.

Defender Brendan Galloway was the oldest player in the starting line-up at 27, while it included three teenagers in Alfie Devine, Lino Sousa and Ashley Phillips, and Darko Gyabi had celebrated his 20th birthday on Sunday.

Read More: Argyle without a shot on target in 3-0 defeat by West Brom

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Even so the Pilgrims' boss admitted his side had put in 'a tired performance' against 'top quality' opponents in West Brom, who scored all three of their goals from the 61st minute onwards.

Foster said: "We are disappointed, clearly, because we have lost a game. I can't be critical of the players, I genuinely can't. I know that sounds maybe just a little bit strange after a 3-0 home defeat but the context of it is it's our third game in six days, the opposition are top quality, they had an extra day's rest than us and I think in the second half it showed.

"We dug in, we kept them at bay but once you concede the first goal the game opens up. We didn't have the energy, we didn't have our normal athleticism, we didn't have our normal connection of the game.

"We struggled to make penetrative runs, we were guilty with tired passes and all of a sudden you begin to set the press on yourselves against a team who play with a front foot mentality. So we found it difficult in the second half and I feel for the players because they have worked incredibly hard again."

Foster continued: "We have made five changes. We have picked a youthful team. That's the youngest team to start a Championship game this season.

"We hoped to have energy and enthusiasm in the group, and we did, we just found it really difficult second half. We have got to stick together now and make sure we recover properly and plan accordingly for a big game on Saturday (away to Middlesbrough)."

Argyle have played top six opposition in each of their last three games - all of them at home - firstly drawing 2-2 with Coventry City last Wednesday after conceding a last-gasp equaliser and then losing 2-0 to Leeds United on Saturday before coming off second best by some distance to west Brom.

Foster said: "I felt it was a tired performance. I thought in the first half there was nothing really in the game. We asked them (the players) for more, unfortunately they couldn't give any more.

"They emptied the tanks, we tried to change it from the side and give us a little bit of energy but we have to credit the opponent. They are top quality, you see that with the changes they have made and the players they are capable of bringing into the team.

"So we have to take our medicine, but we can't be too disappointed. With respect, Argyle and West Bromwich Albion have got two different remits this season. We have just got to dust ourselves down, review it properly and move on."

There was clear frustration among the Green Army in the 16,000-crowd at Home Park about the ineffectiveness of Argyle, and even some boos after the final whistle sounded.

Foster said: "I get it because nobody wants to pay money and see the team get dismantled like we did in the second half, but there has got to be an appreciation as well the players are doing everything they possibly can - we all are, in a really tough period.

"Whilst we enjoy FA Cup replays in front of full houses live on TV, it has probably had a detrimental effect on us physically.

"But, look, there is no excuses. We knew the run of games we were coming into, we tried our best playing top level opposition, we remain competitive in the game until they scored a goal and then we have disappointing moments from there, but I put that down to the players' tiredness and where they are at just at this moment in time."

The Green Army have been treated to some exciting, attacking football over recent times but Argyle could not come up with even one shot on target against West Brom and just four goal attempts.

Foster said: "I'm sure you have had great nights against a damn sight worse opposition than you faced tonight, truth be told, and I mean that respectfully.

"They are one of the best defensive units in the Championship playing against a team who are playing their third game in six days. I won't be critical of the players, we tried.

"We didn't go into the game thinking we wouldn't have a shot. We have to credit the opposition and we have to take our medicine, that's just how the game panned out for us unfortunately."

Morgan Whittaker and Ryan Hardie have scored 30 goals between them for Argyle this season but were non-factors in an attacking sense on this occasion.

Foster said: "You are not stopping Ryan Hardie and Morgan Whittaker, you are stopping the team. If we don't connect the game properly through the thirds then we can't get our forward players on the ball in decent areas.

"Unfortunately for us we struggled in moments of the game. We have to firstly credit the opposition, they are an excellent out of possession team, their structure is really good. You have to go on the outside of them more often than not because you can't find your 10s on the ball because the block is really tight.

"But then in wide areas you just have to show a little bit more creativity for us to get balls in good areas to hurt the opposition."

Argyle did have a good case to be awarded a penalty in the first half when Gyabi was pushed in the back by Nathaniel Chalobah and fell over but referee Tom Nield thought otherwise.

Foster said: "We were never going to get any decisions tonight, we knew that very early in the game. I think everybody knew that."

Asked whether he thought it should have been a penalty, the Pilgrims' boss replied: "I felt the referee got an awful lot wrong tonight."

Another talking point was the fact that both Dan Scarr and Callum Wright were not included in the matchday squad of 20, which Foster was asked about after the match. Scarr had been an unused substitute against Leeds at the weekend but Wright has not been selected for any of the last four games now.

Foster said: "We have a squad and it's competition for places, and that's what we want. We picked this group of 20 for this particular game based on the opposition and how players are performing in games and in training. We will continue to do that."

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