Coughlan laments ill-luck

Plymouth Argyle defender Graham Coughlan insists his side were unlucky to go down to Premiership high-fliers Everton in Saturday evening’s FA Cup third round clash at Home Park.

The former Bray Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Livingston centre half came face-to-face with new Everton signing and former Blackburn team-mate James Beattie, and proceeded to keep the England international relatively quiet on his Toffees debut.

But the 30-year-old’s side were downed by goals from Leon Osman, James McFadden and Nick Chadwick, and Coughlan insists the big guns benefited from any bit of luck that was going.

He said: “I grew up with James at Blackburn so I know his strengths and weaknesses. I enjoyed playing against him but it’s just a pity we didn’t get the right result.

“There was a wee element of fortune about all their goals. They benefited from all the ricochets and bounces.”