Plymouth Bounce Back To End October On A High
Plymouth Argyle rebounded from two difficult games to end October on a high after a dramatic comeback draw in the most recent round of EFL Championship fixtures.
The Vertu Motors-backed side had gone into the international break on the back of a 2-1 home win against Blackburn Rovers, and returned to action with a trip to Wales to take on a Cardiff City side looking to move off the foot of the table.
With manager Wayne Rooney consigned to the stands after a red card in the previous game, Argyle endured a difficult afternoon on the pitch as the home side controlled the match – taking a two goal lead within half an hour through Alex Robertson and Rubin Colwill.
Ibrahim Cissoko was then sent off just before half-time and Cardiff made the extra man pay as Anwar El Ghazi, Callum Robinson and Chris Willock all struck in the second half to wrap up a comfortable victory and leave Rooney and his side still chasing a first win on the road.
Another away trip followed at Millwall, where the Pilgrims dominated possession but ultimately headed back to Devon without a point.
After being denied a first minute penalty following an offside flag, the visitors fell behind when Romain Esse opened the scoring on 13 minutes but should have equalised shortly afterwards only for Ryan Hardie to miss from close range.
Millwall were able to hold on despite Argyle having more of the ball to consign the visitors to a fourth successive away defeat in the league.
Hopes were high of a more productive afternoon when the Pilgrims then returned to Home Park for the visit of Preston North End who – like Argyle – were on a rough run of form away from home.
The visitors however made the better start to the game and dominated the opening half to race into a two goal lead thanks to Sam Greenwood and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen – and it got worse minutes after half-time when Brad Potts beat Dan Grimshaw to make it 3-0.
Youngster Freddie Issaka pulled one back for the home side when he was quickest to react to Freddie Woodman parrying a free-kick from Adam Randell, before Grimshaw made a number of saves to keep his side in the game as Preston looked to reassert their authority.
Instead, Argyle grabbed a second with eight minutes left on the clock when a teasing cross from the left from Bali Mumba was nodded in by Andre Gray and deep into stoppage time, Mustapha Bundu found Morgan Whittaker in the box and he slipped the ball beyond Woodman to bring Plymouth level.
The point keeps Argyle just outside the drop zone ahead of the trip to Leeds United this weekend.