MIDFIELDER Karl Duguid has admitted Plymouth Argyle must learn the lessons from their dismal display against Barnsley at Home Park on Saturday.

The Pilgrims were losing 4-1 when the Championship clash was abandoned by referee Gavin Ward in the 59th minute after torrential rain flooded the pitch.

Argyle dropped one position to 23rd in the Championship table as a consequence, with Ipswich Town moving above them after winning 2-1 at Cardiff City on Sunday.

So the pressure is on the Pilgrims to put in a much-improved performance when they play Sheffield United at Home Park this Saturday.

Duguid

(pictured right)

admitted Argyle had been fortunate the atrocious weather came to their rescue against Barnsley.

He said: "I don't think at any time this season anyone has put us up against it like that.

"It's something we can learn from. We will look at that during the week and we have got a massive game against Sheffield United this weekend."

Barnsley were understandably dismayed at the abandonment of the game on Saturday, with them in such a commanding position.

Duguid said: "It has happened to me before. When I was at Colchester we were 3-0 up at half-time and the game got abandoned. It's just one of those things.

"Had it been the other way around, and we had been leading 4-1, then they (Barnsley) would have been as pleased as we were.

"We got out of jail, and it's something for us to look at."

Argyle had taken the lead against Barnsley in only the ninth minute when Duguid fired home after a cross from midfielder Alan Judge.

Duguid said: "We went 1-0 up and we were doing okay. Then, as soon as we conceded a goal, every time they went forward they looked like they were going to score."

Ward abandoned the game because he was concerned the worsening conditions were a threat to the players' safety.

Duguid said: "You have got to be careful, and the ref doesn't want it on his head that somebody got injured because of what the pitch was like.

"When Judgey ran with it (the ball) and got tackled by a puddle, I think that just summed it up.

"Enough was enough then, and it was the right decision.

"Barnsley are going to argue against that, because they were 4-1 up. I think if it was the other way around we would have been exactly the same."

Duguid's goal against Barnsley would have been his second of the season, but it will not stand now.

And Argyle top scorer Jamie Mackie's one-match suspension will have to be carried over into the game against Sheffield United.

Mackie had been forced to sit out the visit of Barnsley after picking up five yellow cards this term.

The versatile Duguid was given a new role by Sturrock on Saturday.

The 31-year-old had played at right-back in the 1-0 defeat away to Leicester City the previous weekend.

But Duguid lined up on the left-side of midfield against Barnsley.

He said: "I think in my first season in the Championship with Colchester I probably played 50 per cent of the games at left-midfield.

"So it's a position I know, but obviously I'm not going to be like Nooney (winger Craig Noone) or somebody like that.

"I came in from the left and scored a goal, but that doesn't even count now."

Argyle and Barnsley are now in talks about setting a new date for the fixture.

The Football League could insist on it being played on Tuesday, December 15, which is the next available midweek slot.

But it is more likely the two sides will have to wait until early in 2010 before meeting at Home Park again.

Argyle are away to Swansea City next Tuesday as part of a full round of Championship matches that night.

A decision on admission prices for the rearranged game against Barnsley will be taken at boardroom level in the near future.

www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/argyle