Bath boss Bartlett: Argyle gave us one of the best tests possible

Scott Bartlett acknowledged that Plymouth Argyle provided his Bath City team with one of the best tests they could get at this stage of the year.

Bath City boss Scott Bartlett in the technical area as his side take on former England star Tom Cleverley’s Plymouth Argyle at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday 18th July | Photo © Simon Howe

The Pilgrims, from League One, fielded a strong side for the warm-up match against the Romans at the Cannon Clarke Stadium @ Twerton Park on Saturday 18th July and emerged 3-0 winners. And the outcome could easily have been more convincing.

Bartlett said: “It was one of the best tests we could possibly get at this stage of the season.

“We thank them for bringing such a strong team.

“They showed us a lot of respect, and they did it properly, so we got pulled about a little bit, we played against a really, really clever team, really good movement.

“I thought we came through it pretty well.

“I thought our shape, and our discipline, out of possession, were very good.

“When you concede that much territory against a really, really good team like that, you’re going to concede chances.

“I was a little bit disappointed with the first goal, but the second one, they broke on us. There was a lot of green grass behind us because we had the ball down the other end. Brilliant break – that just shows the levels.

“But really, really pleased with my team. We’ve come through it well, I think they’ve come through it well.

“They would’ve gained a lot from that as well. They brought on a number of youngsters later on in the game who had to come up against Reuben Reid and Alex Fisher, so that’d be brilliant for those young boys as well.”

Of Argyle gaffer Tom Cleverley, the former England star, Bartlett said: “He’s very thorough. He knew everything there was to know about us, personally and us as a club. It’s a relationship we want to keep going.”

Reflecting on pre-season, Bartlett said: “After every game, you analyse it and you look at little bits and pieces.

“Today we got boxed in a little bit when we were trying to play out down our left side, so that’s something we want to work on this week.

“But I think that every game brings different tests.

“We’re looking at different things, we’re playing different combinations, it’s slightly different tweaks, some people are starting, some are coming off the bench at different times. So there’s loads to learn.

“I think with these games, you’re trying to test yourself against teams that are higher up the pyramid.

“I always play Cardiff [City U21] every year because I know that Darren Purse’s Cardiff team’s different from a lot of U21 teams.

“They get about you and they’d cope well in a league like ours.

“There’s always the scope to maybe take one or two good loan players from them.

“Just keeping everyone fit and fresh is the key now, before we go into the first [Southern League] game.”