Late heartbreak as Argyle beaten

RED CARD FOR EDWARDS AMID PENALTY AGONY

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

THERE was late heartbreak for relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle as they were beaten 2-1 by play-off chasing Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium yesterday after conceding a goal from a stoppage time penalty.

The Pilgrims had seemed set to pick up what could have been an important point after a hard-working defensive display, mixed with some promising attacking moments which they did not make the most of, until Tommy Conway scored for Boro from the spot.

The penalty was awarded in the third minute of added time when Conway went down after a hand in the back from Joe Edwards and the Argyle captain was also sent-off by referee Anthony Backhouse before the Boro striker slotted home the winning goal.

Middlesbrough had taken an early lead through former Pilgrims' loanee Finn Azaz but Mustapha Bundu equalised in the 17th minute with his eighth goal of the season and Argyle went on to have some other scoring chances but they could not take them and that proved costly in the end.

The defeat leaves the Pilgrims at risk of being relegated from the Championship on Easter Monday, when they play Coventry City at Home Park, depending on their result as well as how the other teams at the bottom of the table get on.

Edwards captained Argyle against Middlesbrough as he made his first start since late October following a long-term hamstring injury. Darko Gyabi also came into the side as Nathanael Ogbeta and Callum Wright dropped down to the substitutes' bench.

Edwards played at right wingback, which meant Bali Mumba switched across to the left, while Gyabi was used in a 'number 10' role alongside Ryan Hardie, with Bundu up front.

Adam Randell and Jordan Houghton continued as the central midfield pairing, while the defensive trio were again Kornel Szucs, Victor Palsson and Julio Pleguezuelo.