Plateau United vs Inter Lagos ended in a 2-0 win for the Peace Boys on Sunday, but the result told a different story from their previous two matches.
The Peace Boys secured a 2-0 victory at the New Jos Stadium, with Gideon Monday opening the scoring in the 56th minute before Jibril Ibrahim added a second in the 76th. The result extended Plateau’s unbeaten run to five league matches and delivered their second clean sheet of the season.
For a team that recently came from behind against both Shooting Stars and Doma United, this was a welcome change.
Photo: Plateau United FC
There was no early goal to recover from, no desperate late equaliser and no need to rely on another comeback.
But despite the comfortable-looking scoreline, Gbenga Ogunbote wasn’t entirely satisfied. Plateau had opportunities to make the afternoon easier, and their finishing remains an area the coach wants to improve.
That gives us two sides to Sunday’s result: an encouraging defensive performance and another reminder that this team still has work to do.
Plateau United vs Inter Lagos: Patience Finally Pays Off
Inter Lagos arrived in Jos having recently beaten Enyimba away and drawn with Kano Pillars. Plateau had reason to take the newly promoted side seriously.
The first half ended goalless, leaving Plateau with more work to do after the break.
Ogunbote’s post-match assessment highlighted his team’s wastefulness in front of goal. He was pleased to collect the points but concerned about opportunities that went begging.
Plateau eventually found their breakthrough in the 56th minute through Gideon Monday.
Photo: Plateau United FC
It was another goal in a productive recent spell for the forward, who also scored against Shooting Stars and Doma United.
Twenty minutes later, Jibril Ibrahim doubled the advantage. Inter Lagos couldn’t find a response, and Plateau completed a 2-0 victory.
The result was encouraging, although the coach’s comments suggest the performance wasn’t quite as comfortable as the final score might indicate.
This Time, Plateau Didn’t Need a Comeback
Last week’s match against Doma United left us with an important question: how long could Plateau keep relying on their ability to recover after conceding?
They had already come from behind to beat Shooting Stars 3-1. Three days later, they recovered from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Doma United.
Both performances demonstrated character, but repeatedly falling behind isn’t a sustainable way to collect points.
Against Inter Lagos, Plateau offered a different response.
They kept their opponents from scoring, took the lead themselves and added another goal rather than spending the closing stages chasing an equaliser.
Photo: Plateau United FC
Of course, one clean sheet doesn’t mean their defensive concerns have disappeared. It does, however, show that the problems we identified in their previous two matches don’t have to define every performance.
For Ogunbote, the challenge is to make afternoons like this more frequent.
Five Matches Unbeaten: What the Numbers Tell Us
Plateau United’s campaign began with a disappointing 2-0 defeat away to Rivers United.
Since then, they have gone five league matches without losing.
Their results during that run are:
- Plateau United 1-0 Kwara United
- Niger Tornadoes 1-1 Plateau United
- Plateau United 3-1 Shooting Stars
- Doma United 2-2 Plateau United
- Plateau United 2-0 Inter Lagos
That gives the Peace Boys three wins and two draws from their last five matches.
After six league games, Plateau have collected 11 points, scoring nine goals and conceding six. They have also recorded two clean sheets.
Their attacking improvement is particularly noticeable.
Plateau managed just one goal across their opening two matches. They have scored eight in the four games since.
That improvement is encouraging, but the figures also explain why Ogunbote isn’t satisfied yet. Scoring more goals has helped Plateau recover from difficult situations, but converting opportunities earlier could prevent some of those situations from developing in the first place.
What Does the NPFL Table Tell Us?
Plateau United’s victory moved them onto 11 points and placed them second following Sunday’s round of results, behind Barau FC on 12.
However, the standings need to be viewed alongside the outstanding fixtures.
Rivers United entered Monday with 10 points from four matches and an outstanding fixture against Ranchers Bees. That result could change Plateau’s position before the round is fully completed.
Rather than concentrating too heavily on their temporary league position, the more useful measure of Plateau’s progress is their response to the opening-day defeat.
Five matches without losing, three victories and an improving goal return represent a considerably better position than they occupied at the beginning of the campaign.
Whether that improvement can continue will depend partly on their performances away from Jos.
Ogunbote Still Wants More From His Attack
Winning 2-0 and keeping a clean sheet would normally leave a manager with relatively few complaints.
Ogunbote, however, identified something his players must improve: their finishing.
His concern about wasted opportunities is understandable. Plateau couldn’t find a first-half breakthrough against Inter Lagos, and they needed until the 56th minute to take the lead.
There will be matches when they don’t get as many opportunities or when their opponents punish missed chances.
That is why the next stage of Plateau’s development shouldn’t be measured by goals alone. They also need to make better use of the chances they create.
The team has already demonstrated resilience, and Sunday’s clean sheet was a welcome defensive response. Becoming more clinical would give them another way to win matches without unnecessary pressure.
Ogunbote described his team as a work in progress, and six league matches are too few to reach any sweeping conclusions.
Still, there are signs that the pieces are beginning to come together.
Enyimba Away: Plateau’s Next Challenge
Plateau United’s next scheduled NPFL fixture is away to Enyimba on October 4.
It presents another opportunity to measure their progress, particularly away from home.
Plateau have collected points at Niger Tornadoes and Doma United, but they are still searching for their first away victory of the season.
Enyimba have also endured a difficult opening to the campaign, although that doesn’t automatically make a trip to Aba straightforward.
For Plateau, the objective should be to build on Sunday’s defensive performance while improving the finishing that concerned Ogunbote.
Their recent results have shown they can recover from setbacks. Against Inter Lagos, they demonstrated that they can also take the lead and protect it.
The next challenge is producing those performances consistently, especially away from Jos.
Plateau United have already shown they know how to fight their way back into matches. On Sunday, they showed they don’t always have to.