Full time: Plymouth Argyle 1, Ipswich 1
JON Stead scored as Ipswich came from behind to secure a draw at fellow strugglers Plymouth but remain winless and rooted to the foot of the Coca-Cola Championship table.
The hosts went ahead in the 22nd minute when Carl Fletcher drilled home from the edge of the area but Stead came off the bench to earn Roy Keane’s side a vital point with his 68th-minute strike.
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The Pilgrims were reduced to 10 men late on when Darcy Blake saw red but held on to avoid going bottom.
The hosts had former Plymouth and Ipswich striker Paul Mariner in the dugout alongside manager Paul Sturrock for the first time after his appointment as head coach following two decades working in the United States.
Plymouth were also able to welcome back Kari Arnason following a chest infection but were without Bradley Wright-Phillips, who remains out with a knee problem.
Jon Walters made the Ipswich starting XI despite previously being rated very doubtful after sustaining a ankle strain as Town were denied victory late on in their 1-1 draw with Watford on Tuesday night.
The hosts looked to apply some early pressure but Gary Sawyer and Jamie Mackie saw shots blocked before Pablo Counago produced the first shot on target at the other end, goalkeeper Romain Larrieu gathering comfortably.
Grant Leadbitter then unleashed a strike from the edge of the hosts’ box but failed to keep his effort on target.
A good chance then fell to Ipswich when Sawyer’s cross reached Rory Fallon, but the striker failed to keep his header down.
He made amends however when he played the ball through for Fletcher, who unleashed 20-yard thunderbolt.
Town were dealt a further blow just minutes later when Gareth McAuley was forced off due to injury, paving way for Alex Bruce to make his return following a groin injury, while Fallon was replaced by Cillian Sheridan shortly after.
Leadbitter’s curling strike from the edge of the area was parried by Larrieu and Plymouth went in ahead at the break.
Walters had the chance to pull Town level shortly after the break but failed to place his header on target after latching onto David Wright’s cross.
Keane then turned to Stead just before the hour mark bringing him on for Pablo Counago and enjoyed the fruits of his decision just 10 minutes later.
The striker was first to react to Sawyer’s slack backpass and made no mistake in slotting home from 12 yards.
Karl Duguid looked to restore the hosts’ lead but saw his strike from the edge of the area parried away by goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.
Carlos Edwards then fired over the bar before Blake received a straight red for a foul on Walters in the 84th minute.
48 Comments
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by david, plymouth
Tuesday, October 27 2009, 12:32PM
“thought the team played well last saturday and it was nice to see the two pauls on the line giving the players there support .it has been lacking in the past games .i feel the team will start there winning ways this saturday away they will get us three points .come on you greens .”
by CG, Plymouth
Sunday, October 25 2009, 10:02PM
“Agree with the previous comments regarding Paul Mariner. Great to see such enthusiasm coming from the touchline once again.
I dont entirely blame Sawyer for his mistake though. If the ball wasn't such a hot potato, especially in the 2nd half of any game we play, somebody might have actually came for the pass?. It's a team game and much to work on methinks.”
by rory fallon is god!, saltash
Sunday, October 25 2009, 9:30PM
“What a pathetic man you are are doctor X, you should support your local team rather than two teams from cities you've never been to, getting hit by a truck is too good for scum like you!!!”
by Zoony's mate, Mars
Sunday, October 25 2009, 8:42PM
“This Doctor X saddo seems to follow every team in the league.
His/her/its post from Saturday 24th at 2155 clearly states "Argyle are a total disgrace and I will never support them ever again!"
And...
"At least one of my other clubs Chelsea won 5 nil. Hope Man Utd, my other club do the business tomorrow".
Then on todays post at 1629 it wrote "Hah, yet another pointless draw! Argyle cease to amaze me, theyre just rubbish! You should support my teams manchester united and arsenal, at least then you wont have to watch crud!"
So that is Chelsea, The gooners and the red scum - further proof that Doctor X is not loyal to anyone (let alone himself) and yet another one of the Plymouth residents who choose to armchair follow a team in excess of 250 miles away. As they say only 10% of those who follow the red half of Manchester and go actually live within 20 miles of the ground.
Doctor X - get a life, decide which team you support and bin the others. True supporters follow just ONE team - however we are allowed to admire others.
I follow my team which is Argyle and as I am English follow England too.
Did you see the crud that Sky showed at Anfield today - I thought your red team were totally outclassed in all departments apart from the aggro and dirtiness that was employed when they were behind!”
by chris, peverell
Sunday, October 25 2009, 6:02PM
“Steve, plymouth the muppet is back on again nothing better to do then to criticise other peoples comments again, you need to get a life you moron!”
by Doctor X, Plymouth
Sunday, October 25 2009, 4:29PM
“Hah, yet another pointless draw! Argyle cease to amaze me, theyre just rubbish! You should support my teams manchester united and arsenal, at least then you wont have to watch crud!”
by doug C, plymouth
Sunday, October 25 2009, 2:11PM
“First game I have attended in five years, I must honestly say I thought that it was a very entertaining game with a lot of effort from Argyle, I think most of the comments I have been reading recently have been far from reality. The "get Sturrock out" calls inmy opinion ar totally unjustified, admittedly things have not been good for the guy recently but look at most of the other teams in the championship, for example blackpool last week, able to have players worth millions st on the bench and the value of some of the Ipswich players yesterday. I believe that given the right financial support that the two Pauls could really get things moving at Plymouth. Lets have some positive comments please, I am sure that all this negativity we have read is also affecting players.”
by Steve, Plymouth
Sunday, October 25 2009, 1:14PM
“Bob, Plymouth: I'm sure your choice of songs will be a great confidence booster for the players...the opposition ones!! Get a life you saddo!! As for loan players, all players are loan players at the end of the day. No club owns them with 2/3 year contracts then they move on again.”
by Joe Public, Being ignored
Sunday, October 25 2009, 12:52PM
“It's a totally inadequate squad of players at this level (and would probably not be good enough for the top half of League One) who are totally disorganised. It's been the case for most of this year and nothing has been done apart from bringing in a coach with no experience of coaching at this level and when it's too late.
Relegation? Ooh I wonder. :-)”
by ian, saltash
Sunday, October 25 2009, 12:19PM
“At least an average of 1.4 points a game now until the end of the season to achieve safety. Can anybody see where this remarkable turnaround is going to come from?”