Plymouth Extend Unbeaten Run To Four
Plymouth Argyle will go into the final game of the year in the EFL Championship on a four-game unbeaten run after the Vertu Motors-backed side secured a brace of draws from the two Christmas fixtures.
Argyle had secured a dramatic win against Rotherham in what proved to be the final game for manager Steven Schumacher, with the man behind the successful League 1 title-winning campaign of last season moving on to take control of rivals Stoke City.
With Director of Football Neil Dewsnip taking control of team affairs on an interim basis, the Pilgrims welcomed Birmingham City to Home Park and it was the away team who took the lead when Jay Stansfield nodded in after quarter of an hour.
A volley from Jordan James then doubled Birmingham’s lead before Argyle pulled one back on the stoke of half-time thanks to captain Joe Edwards.
Although Krystian Bielik was dismissed for a poor challenge, Birmingham went two clear again just after the hour mark through Juninho Bacuna before Argyle responded again – leaving the away side holding on going into the closing stages of the game.
With four minutes to go, Morgan Whittaker salvaged a point when he fired in from outside the box before Plymouth hit the road on Boxing Day to visit Cardiff City.
Whittaker tapped in from close range to give Argyle the lead after 20 minutes before an unfortunate own goal from Matt Butcher and an impressive first-time strike from Karlan Grant allowed Cardiff to hit the front.
Whittaker slipped in the equaliser after his shot had been saved by ‘keeper Jak Alnwick and Plymouth came close to a winner when Bali Mumba hit the bar.
However, a rare away point meant Argyle head into the final of 2023 against Southampton sitting 16th in the table.