The Pilgrims suffered a third home League One defeat in six games this season as they were beaten 2-0 by Huddersfield
19:37, 17 Oct 2026Updated 19:55, 17 Oct 2026
Argyle defender Alex Mitchell battles for the ball with Huddersfield Town’s Bali Mumba during the League One game at Home Park on 17 October 2026 (Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK)
Tom Cleverley thought Plymouth Argyle ‘shrank away from the challenge’ as they lost 2-0 to Huddersfield Town in their top-of-the-table League One clash at Home Park.
The Pilgrims were up against talented opposition in Huddersfield, with Dutch winger Derensili Sanches Fernandes in particular a real attacking threat, but Cleverley admitted his side were ‘dominated in every phase of the game’.
It was Sanches Fernandes who put the Terriers into the lead in only the sixth minute and after Argyle goalkeeper Murphy Cooper made a number of terrific saves later int he first half, Bojan Radulovic made it 2-0 early in the second period.
Huddersfield were always in control after that, although there was at least some improvement from the Pilgrims after Cleverley made a triple substitution in the 62nd minute, with Xavier Amaechi and Oli Irow providing some attacking spark.
Argyle will have to look to bounce back from their third home league defeat out of six games this season when they travel to play Stevenage on Tuesday night.
Cleverley said after the defeat by Huddersfield: “Really disappointing. When we saw the first 40 seconds of the game and we have a big chance at the back post that their goalkeeper does well.
“Then Jack MacKenzie lands on a second ball and puts in a real firm challenge, you think ‘We will have a bit of this and really get the crowd involved’.
“Then the first action that they (Huddersfield) showed their quality, and I thought they were excellent today, we seemed to fear that and really go into our shell, and shrink and not have the mindset of ‘Okay, I’m up against a good player, how am I going to dominate him?’
Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley during the League One game against Huddersfield Town at Home Park on 17 October 2026 – Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK
“Technically, they have got a great side. Then you have got to go firmer in your duels, you have got to run harder, you have got to be really concentrated away from the ball, really structured, to get on top of your individual battles, and then the game.
“If anything we shrank away from that challenge. Yeah, dominated in every phase of the game. A real humbling afternoon and one that we are determined to react from with two important games coming up.
“You have to take defeat on the chin on afternoons like that where you are second best,” added the Pilgrims’ boss.
Argyle grabbed a last-gasp goal to beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1 at the Theatre of Greens in their previous match, but from early on it was apparent they were in for a struggle against Huddersfield.
Cleverley said: “Let’s face it, we have not managed to hit rhythm here. We had a spell last season of four, five months – Huddersfield, Luton, Cardiff and Port Vale where we hit rhythm.
“That team has now changed, five or six new players who have not managed to have enough good experiences here and it still looks a little bit nervy.
“Even a game that we win last week was not great for 90-95 minutes. There is a few doors we need to unlock now and we have been really good at that as a staff, and a group of players.
“I think we went 32 games, only one team stopped us scoring. Now I think that’s three in six. We need to get back to what we are and scoring freely.
Argyle midfielder Bradley Ibrahim controls the ball under pressure from Huddersfield Town’s Bali Mumba during the League One game at Home Park on 17 October 2026 (Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK)
“We are conceding too many big chances in the first 15 minutes so that’s something I have to address. Is that a mentality thing, a structure thing, approach, warm-up, all these things? You don’t sleep as a coach after a performance like that.
“I have got a really honest group of lads who will be accountable for today, who will be really keen to be in the team for Tuesday so they can show that they are hurting.”
Cleverley added: “I think the best version of us as a team is when we are high press – not gung-ho, and that’s what I need to make sure. It’s not everyone lock on man-v-man and we are in your face.
“There has got to be balance, there has got to be cover in the right areas. I like to try and get pressure on the ball and set a tempo, and I feel like we are really good without the ball.
“You have got to make sure the players don’t misinterpret that to being gung-ho in the first 15 minutes.
“I knew today we were coming up against transitionally the best team in the league. They have a spent a lot of time in Premier League and Championship.
“When you see the glance of the eye at how sharp players are, they have got a Championship sharpness about them.
“So they are dangerous on transition. The first thing you do to stop transition is don’t give the ball away and we did it far too much today.”
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