Academy product Joe Mwaro made his first team debut in the Carabao Cup second round tie at Home Park
Argyle's 17-year-old debutant Joe Mwaro is congratulated by Bim Pepple after the Carabao Cup second round match against Coventry City at Home Park on 25 August 2026 - Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK
Argyle's 17-year-old debutant Joe Mwaro is congratulated by Bim Pepple after the Carabao Cup second round match against Coventry City at Home Park on 25 August 2026 - Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK
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Here are the player ratings of Plymouth Live's Argyle reporter Chris Errington from the Pilgrims' 4-2 Carabao Cup second round defeat by Premier League side Coventry City at Home Park. You can give your marks too using our special widget further down this story.
James Storer 6 - The back-up to first choice goalkeeper Murphy Cooper was one of three Argyle debutants in this action-packed match. Coventry scored four goals but in fairness to Storer there was not much he could have done about any of them, especially the penalty rifled high into the net by Victor Torp which wrapped up City's win in the 78th minute.
Joe Mwaro 8 STAR MAN - An outstanding Argyle debut by the 17-year-old academy product, who did not look un-nerved at all by playing against Premier League opposition. Gustavo Hamer has recently rejoined Coventry from Sheffield United in a reported £6 million transfer and Mwaro largely dealt with him well in their one-on-one battle. Also showed his versatility by swapping from right to left-back for the closing stages of the game.
Read More: Tom Cleverley heaps praise on Argyle debutants against Coventry
Read More: Argyle emerge with credit in defeat against Coventry
Wes Harding 6 - The Argyle captain moved inside to the right-sided centre-back role for the Carabao Cup tie and had to contend with the physical presence of striker Taiwo Awoniyi, whose deftness on the ball made him a real handful until he was substituted in the 70th minute.
Mathias Ross 6 - Also had a positional switch to the left-sided centre-back with Alex Mitchell rested for this game after a recent knee issue and Julio Pleguezuelo named among the substitutes. Ross will have been disappointed not to score with a free header from a Matty Sorinola free-kick in the first half.
Matty Sorinola 6 - The versatile 25-year-old got the chance to start the cup tie at left-back with Alex Hartridge on the substitutes' bench and he did so in typically determined style, before switching to a midfield holding role towards the end of the match.
Tyreeq Bakinson 7 - With Malachi Boateng ruled out by a knee ligament injury, Bakinson slotted straight into central midfield alongside Harvey White in a 4-2-3-1 formation only a day after his loan move from Leyton Orient was finalised. Considering this was his first game of the new season the 27-year-old could feel pleased with his efforts before he was substituted in the 74th minute.
Harvey White 7 - There were more signs in this game that the summer signing from Stevenage is starting to find his feet in Tom Cleverley's Argyle set-up. White was good in possession against high calibre Coventry players and came up with his second assist of the season with the pass which released Oliver Irow for him to go on and score in the 21st minute.
Caleb Watts 6 - Played the first half on the right of midfield before he was taken off in a planned half-time substitution as he had his second game in four days after not being involved throughout the pre-season matches due to an ankle injury.
Bradley Ibrahim 7 - Tom Cleverley seems keen to try and exploit the athleticism and ability to drive forward with the ball of Ibrahim in an advanced midfield role, rather than playing deeper. That was the case in the 1-1 League One draw at Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday when he was an early substitute for the injured Malachi Boateng and also against Coventry.
Oliver Irow 7 - This was a very encouraging start to his season-long loan from Tottenham Hotspur for the 20-year-old, who displayed pace and directness playing wide on the left for Argyle, causing Joel Latibeaudiere more than a few problems, most notably when he cut inside him and scored the Pilgrims' first goal with a low strike past goalkeeper Daniel Bentley.
Will Evans 7 - Led the attack for Argyle as they lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bim Pepple saved for an appearance as a second half substitute. Evans was unfortunate not to get his second goal in as many games when he pounced on the loose ball after Daniel Bentley could not hold onto a Harvey White shot but his follow-up attempt deflected off an outstretched leg of the Coventry 'keeper and struck the left post.
SUBSTITUTES
Xavier Amaechi 7 - Looked sharp wide on the right of midfield for Argyle when introduced as a half-time substitute for Caleb Watts and scored his second goal of the season in the 54th minute to put the Pilgrims level at 2-2 when he dispossessed Coventry captain Liam Kitching and drove forward before slotting low into the net.
Tegan Finn 7 - The 18-year-old left-sided attacker replaced Oliver Irow in the 59th minute and made a good impact, not least when his header had to be tipped over the bar by Daniel Bentley to prevent Argyle from getting back on level terms at 3-3. This was a good return to first team action after injury issues had prevented Finn playing since the end of February.
Bim Pepple 7 - Was a straight swap up front for Will Evans in the 59th minute and well up for the fight as he unsettled the Coventry defence. Pepple looked to have been dragged down inside the City penalty area in the 88th minute but referee Elliott Swallow thought otherwise and did not award a spot kick to the home side.
Caleb Roberts 6 - A first appearance of the season for the 20-year-old midfielder who took over from Harvey White just before the hour mark.
Joe Edwards 5 - Made his comeback from a summer knee procedure as a 74th minute substitute for Tyreeq Bakinson, which led to Edwards playing at right-back, Joe Mwaro switching to the left and Matty Sorinola taking up a midfield role. Not long after entering the action Edwards caught Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante as he tried to clear the ball inside the box and Victor Torp's resulting penalty made it 4-2 to the Sky Blues.
Substitutes (not used): Murphy Cooper, Julio Pleguezuelo, Ronan Curtis, Alex Hartridge.
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