ARGYLE'S miserable season continued as they crashed to a third consecutive Championship defeat against Swansea last night.

The Pilgrims have now lost 12 of their 19 league games and, already, the threat of relegation seems very real.

Only one goal separated the two sides at the Liberty Stadium, but it was a match which the hosts dominated.

Their enterprising attacking play was rewarded in the 52nd minute.

Their two half-time substitutes combined as Gorka Pintado set up Lee Trundle to slot the ball into the net.

Argyle rarely threatened a goal of their own, although striker Rory Fallon was denied an equaliser in the 63rd minute by a fine save from Dorus de Vries.

And the night ended on a sour note for the Pilgrims when defender Shane Lowry was sent-off in stoppage time at the end of the match.

Lowry was shown a second yellow card, followed by a red one, after clashing with Pintado, who was also booked.

Argyle top scorer Jamie Mackie returned from a one-match suspension for the clash at the Liberty Stadium.

Mackie led the visitors' attack, with former Swansea striker Fallon playing off him.

There was also a recall in the centre of midfield for Yoann Folly, who had been an unused substitute in the 1-0 home defeat by Sheffield United on Saturday.

Making way for Mackie and Folly were Ashley Barnes and Joe Mason, who had made his debut against the Blades.

Swansea boss Paulo Sousa was still without striker, and club record signing, Craig Beattie because of a knee injury.

But he opted not to call-up fans' favourite Trundle even though he had scored twice as a substitute in the 2-2 draw at Peterborough United at the weekend.

Instead, Besian Idrizaj took over from Pintado as the central striker in a 4-3-3 formation.

It was the Austria under-21 international's first start for the Swans.

There had been heavy rain all afternoon in south-west Wales but the skies cleared by kick-off.

The pitch, which is also used by rugby side Ospreys, was in excellent condition.

Argyle, captained as usual by former Wales international midfielder Carl Fletcher, almost conceded a goal in the first minute.

Nathan Dyer played a slick one-two with Idrizaj and burst into the penalty area.

His low shot was kicked away by Argyle goalkeeper Romain Larrieu, but the ball rebounded to Joe Allen.

He was 18 yards out and saw his attempt on goal deflect off Pilgrims' centre-back Kari Arnason for a corner.

Swansea right-back Angel Rangel fired into the side netting from a tight angle as the home side started positively.

Argyle threatened for the first time in the 15th minute, following a long throw into hosts' 18-yard area by Arnason.

The ball was not cleared properly by the Swans and broke to Fletcher, whose shot was blocked by centre-back Ashley Williams.

Argyle were forced into a 21st minute substitution when Folly, injured in a tackle earlier on, was replaced by Chris Clark.

It was a straight swap, with Clark – recently out of favour – slotting into the centre of midfield.

Argyle were having to work hard defensively to keep out Swansea, with right-back David Gray booked in the 31st minute for a rash, sliding tackle on Dyer.

Arnason then made a crucial block on a low cross from Dyer which was destined for Idrizaj.

Dyer was a constant menace, using his pace and direct running to unsettle the Pilgrims.

Fallon had a good chance to score against his former employers in the 41st minute, when he was picked out by a cross from Fletcher.

But the New Zealand international mistimed his header and the ball went wide.

Swansea had one further chance before half-time, after Fletcher conceded a free-kick 20 yards out for a foul on midfielder Darren Pratley.

The set piece was taken by left-back Federico Bessone, whose fierce strike deflected off Gray for a corner.

Swansea made a double substitution at half-time, with Pintado and Trundle sent on for Idrizaj and Allen as the home side switched to 4-4-2.

The introduction of Trundle, in particular, certainly lifted the home supporters.

Almost immediately, Lowry was booked for a foul on Pintado.

And Sousa's double switch paid dividends in the 52nd minute.

Pintado broke down the right and sent in a low cross which Trundle stabbed into the net at the near post, beating Arnason to the ball.

Before the restart, Darcy Blake replaced Gray at right-back for the Pilgrims.

Argyle midfielder Alan Judge was then shown a yellow card in the 56th minute for a tackle on Dyer.

It was much the same story as the first half, with Swansea dominating, but Argyle nearly equalised in the 63rd minute.

Judge put in a superb deep cross to Fallon, whose powerful header was beaten away by de Vries.

It was the first time in the match the Swansea keeper had been seriously tested.

Fletcher was booked for dissent before winger Craig Noone came on as a 79th minute substitute for left-back Gary Sawyer.

Arnason became the fifth Argyle player to be cautioned two minutes later for a clattering challenge on Pintado.

Dyer was still proving to be very lively whenever in possession and went close with one shot which went across the face of goal.

There was no way back for Argyle, and they ended the match with only 10 players after Lowry's dismissal.

His clash with Pintado in the second minute of stoppage time was spotted by one of the assistant referees, who drew it to the attention of Steve Tanner.

He then brandished the red card, which means the Aston Villa loan signing will be suspended for the trip to Preston North End on Saturday.