Alex Mitchell, Bim Pepple, Malachi Boateng and Caleb Watts were all on target for Argyle in their excellent 4-0 victory
08:26, 15 Feb 2026Updated 10:01, 15 Feb 2026
Goal celebrations for Caleb Watts of Plymouth Argyle during the EFL League One match between Blackpool and Plymouth Argyle at Bloomfield Road on 14 February 2026 in Blackpool, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
Here are the player ratings of Plymouth Live’s Argyle reporter Chris Errington from the Pilgrims’ emphatic 4-0 League One win against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. You can give your marks too using our special widget further down this story.
Conor Hazard 7 – Did not have a significant save to make until the closing stages of the game with Argyle 4-0 up when he flung himself high to his left to push away a shot from Leighton Clarkson. Otherwise, it was a quiet afternoon for Hazard on his return from a three-match absence due to a sprained ankle.
Joe Edwards 8 – Set the tone for Argyle’s excellent, high-intensity showing by crunching into a ball-winning challenge high up the pitch almost straight from the kick-off and his subsequent cross resulted in Caleb Watts sending a glancing header just wide of the far post with less than 30 seconds played. Later, had the assist for the Pilgrims’ fourth goal when he linked up well with Ronan Curtis before cutting the ball back to Watts.
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Mathias Ross 7 – Argyle took the game to Blackpool from the off and apart from a short spell at the start of the second half and were always on top. However, on the rare moments when Argyle did come under defensive pressure Ross and his centre-back partner Alex Mitchell dealt well with the danger.
Alex Mitchell 8 – Given how strong in the air he has been in Argyle’s own penalty area this season it is quite surprising it took until his 31st game for them to get his first goal from a set piece played into the opposition box. Mitchell opened the scoring in the 30th minute when he beat Olly Casey to the ball with an outsretched right leg to get on the end of a perfectly-flighted free-kick from Herbie Kane.
Wes Harding 7 – The loan signing from Millwall started a second successive game at left-back with Brendan Galloway out injured and Matty Sorinola completing a two-match suspension and it was a much more comfortable afternoon for him than it had been on his debut in the 4-1 defeat by Lincoln City at Home Park the previous Saturday. Harding switched across to right-back during the second half after Joe Edwards was substituted with the game already won.
Malachi Boateng 8 STAR MAN – There were several contenders when it came to pick of Argyle’s players but the strength and ball-winning of Boateng in central midfield was vital as the Pilgrims were able to control that area of the game in a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation even though Blackpool had an extra man in there, and he also came up with the third goal with virtually the last kick of the first half. Tom Cleverley could not have been more complimentary about the 23-year-old afterwards.
Herbie Kane 8 – This was an excellent full debut for the transfer deadline day loan signing from Huddersfield Town. He used the ball well in open play, his set piece delivery was good – such as his assist for Alex Mitchell’s opening goal – and he took up positions on the edge of the Blackpool box so when the ball was not fully cleared he was there to keep up the pressure, a case in point being when his low shot was pushed out by Bailey Peacock-Farrell only for Malachi Boateng to fire home the rebound.
Owen Dale 7 – Did not carry quite the same amount of attacking threat as the other three Argyle players in forward positions but he played his part in the dominant display and convincing victory with his out of possession work, tracking back and winning challenges inside his own half.
Ronan Curtis 8 – Was given the chance to play more centrally at times than in his previous Argyle games, as a second striker to Bim Pepple with Caleb Watts drifting out to the wide instead and that flexibility caused Blackpool all sorts of problems defensively. Curtis also pressed the ball with intelligence and intensity as the Pilgrims did not let the home side settle into any rhythm. He has been a very good January addition to the team.
Caleb Watts 8 – Grabbed his fifth goal in his 19th game of an injury-hit first season at Argyle with an almost nonchalant left-foot finish when he was left unmarked after Joe Edwards cut the ball back to him. His versatility to play through the middle up front or attack from wider positions and take on opposition defenders with weaving runs into the penalty area was on show against a bewildered Blackpool at times.
Bim Pepple 8 – The powerful striker continued his terrific recent goal scoring form by putting Argyle 2-0 up at the start of first half added time with a close range header as he beat Blackpool’s Michael Ihiekwe to the ball after it had been pushed up into the air by Bailey Peacock-Farrell. It is now five goals in the last seven matches for Pepple and he is playing with a lot of confidence.
SUBSTITUTES
Jamie Paterson 7 – The experienced attacker has not had a lot of game time this season but he came on in the 62nd minute as a substitute for Caleb Watts as Tom Cleverley turned his focus to Argyle’s away game against Leyton Orient on Tuesday and saving some of his players for that trip to east London.
Brendan Wiredu 7 – Slotted into central midfield alongside Malachi Boateng in the 62nd minute as he replaced Herbie Kane, who had started a game for the first time since mid-September following a lengthy injury lay-off at Huddersfield before making his loan move to Argyle.
Xavier Amaechi 6 – Made a late sliding tackle on James Husband which earned him a yellow card but the Blackpool captain was shown a straight red card by referee Paul Howard for retaliating to the challenge by kicking out at Amaechi.
Jack MacKenzie 7 – Was a 71st minute substitute for Joe Edwards, with MacKenzie lining up at left-back and Wes Harding moving across to his more favoured right side. It was good for MacKenzie to get in some more minutes after a tricky debut off the bench in the 2-1 defeat away to Stockport County a fortnight earlier.
Bradley Ibrahim 6 – Made his return to action after an ankle injury he picked up in mid-November when sent on for Ronan Curtis in the 78th minute. With Ibrahim and Herbie Kane now available to play in central midfield, along with Malachi Boateng and Brendan Wiredu, there are good options in that area of the squad for Tom Cleverley.
Substitutes (not used): Luca Ashby-Hammond, Lorent Tolaj.
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