Tom Cleverley pleased with Argyle attacking players against Bath

Leading 1-0 in the 45th minute, Argyle broke from the halfway line as Bim Pepple played through Owen Oseni and as goalkeeper Harvey Wiles-Richards came out to the edge of the penalty area the striker squared the ball inside to Michael Baidoo and he slotted it into the net.

Oseni had opened the scoring in the 40th minute, and Xavier Amaechi grabbed the Pilgrims' third goal early in the second period, with Baidoo providing the assists for both.

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Cleverley told Plymouth Live: "I thought it was a really good workout for us. The first 15 minutes we controlled the ball without turning it into chances and you know that annoys me a little bit.

"I would never want to be the team that has all the ball and is not threatening the opposition's box. I think where we are getting to now, which comes with a lot of stability and consistency, is the players can feel that themselves.

"They know that balance needs shifting, we need to risk it, we need to play a bit more direct and I thought after the drinks break we did that.

"We were a lot more dangerous. We got up the pitch better and we had some good combinations to work it in the box, and out of possession we were outstanding.

"The clear picture for us out of possession is to create our own moments. The second goal was an example of how devastating we can be on transition."

Argyle scored their three goals in a 13-minute spell either side of half-time, and later Cleverley substituted the whole starting line-up just after the hour mark.

Cleverley said: "I don't try and attack games in chunks of minutes or 'Let's peak just before half-time and after'. We try and be at our maximum at all times, but obviously it's nice when that happens.

"I have been really pleased where the goals have come from pre-season. All attacking players today and I think a lot of attacking players in the assists as well.

"They deserve it because they work so hard for this team. People don't realise the work our forwards and wide players do, pressing and recovering to land on transition moments.

"I'm glad they have been getting their rewards for that, even though it is just pre-season."

The game against Bath saw goalkeeper Murphy Cooper and defender Alex Hartridge make their first appearances after joining Argyle ahead of the 2026/27 season.

Cleverley said about Hartridge: "He's very good on the ball, which is probably what people don't give him credit for. He gives you the left-footed balance.

"He talked the young players around him through it. He didn't put a foot wrong and as well he brings us a long throw.

"Murphy didn't have to do too much but you can hear both of them. That's one of the big things they will bring is that leadership, that organisation, that knowledge of the game.

"We have had a couple of senior players leave in the summer so they will be good replacements for that."

Cooper signed for Argyle from Championship club Queens Park Rangers last week after having loan spells at Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday last season.

With Wednesday, the 24-year-old shot-stopper worked with former Pilgrims' goalkeeping coach Darryl Flahavan, who was on Cleverley's staff at Home Park until last October.

Cleverley said: "We had some competition for Murphy's signature. He's aggressive, he's very athletic, he's pro-active. He makes saves just from his speed across his goal, and personality-wise he's first class.

"He's a perfectionist, he's very serious about his work, he's very serious about winning and he will add a lot to the environment for sure."

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