Relegation fears deepen after Derby defeat

PLYMOUTH Argyle remain rooted to the bottom of the Championship table after a hugely damaging 3-2 defeat by relegation rivals Derby County at Home Park.

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

Miron Muslic's Pilgrims fought back from a 2-0 first half deficit to draw level at 2-2 and would have hoped to go on and secure a vital victory in their fight to stay up. However, it was Derby who came up with an 88th minute winning goal when Marcus Harness scored for the second time in the match

It was a result which leaves Argyle six points from safety, although given the fact their goal difference is much worse than all nearly all of the teams above them, the gap is effectively seven points and they have only eight games remaining.

The Pilgrims have lost each of their last two home games, after being beaten 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday seven days earlier, and defensively have just not been strong enough, individually and collectively, when they needed to be.

Argyle's starting line-up against Derby showed three changes from the 2-1 Wednesday night win away to Portsmouth, with two of them enforced because Julio Pleguezuelo was injured and Matty Sorinola was suspended.

Kornel Szucs took over in defence from Pleguezuelo, who suffered broken ribs in the victory over Pompey, while Bali Mumba played at right wing-back instead of Sorinola after he was sent-off at Fratton Park.

The other Pilgrims' change was in one of the two 'number 10' positions where Callum Wright replaced Michael Obafemi, who was named among the substitutes. Caleb Roberts and Victor Palsson were added to the bench as a result of the absences of Pleguezuelo and Sorinola.

Szucs lined up on the right of Argyle's defensive trio, which meant Maksym Talovierov moved across to the left and captain Nikola Katic was in between them.