Argyle extend their run as Pepple earns a point

PLYMOUTH

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

Argyle could not make it four consecutive League One wins as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Mansfield Town at Home Park.The Pilgrims went into the match without three key players due to injuries as goalkeeper Conor Hazard, midfielder Joe Ralls and top scorer Lorent Tolaj all missed out.

Yet despite that Argyle started the game strongly and striker Bim Pepple gave them a 20th minute lead with an excellent shot from distance.

Mansfield goalkeeper Liam Roberts went on to make superb saves from Pepple and Caleb Watts as crucially the home side could not find a way of getting a second goal, which their dominance deserved.

Then shortly before halftime, a cross into the Argyle penalty area took a touch off defender Brendan Galloway as it ended up in the net.

The Pilgrims did not carry the same attacking threat in the second half as they had done in the first as they ran out of ideas, while Mansfield rarely threatened to get a winning goal either.

It is now six wins and three draws in the last 10 League One games for Argyle but it will have felt like two points lost for them, rather than one gained.

Argyle's starting lineup against Mansfield showed three changes from the 1-0 home league defeat of Luton Town on Saturday because of the injuries to Hazard, Ralls and Tolaj.

Luca Ashby-Hammond took over as goalkeeper as he played his first league game since the Pilgrims were beaten 1-0 by Peterborough United at the Theatre of Greens in September.

However, the 24-year-old had made three appearances in the Vertu Trophy since then twice away to Bristol Rovers, one in the group stage and the other in the round of 16, plus at Leyton Orient in a last 32 tie.

Ralls missed out due to the hamstring injury he suffered early in the game against Luton and Brendan Wiredu replaced him in the centre of midfield.