Argyle battle back for a hard-earned away point

MALACHI

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

ABOVE: Argyle's Matthew Sorinola battles with Stevenage's Luther James-Wildin

(TOM CUSDEN/PPAUK)

Boateng scored a second half equaliser for Plymouth Argyle as they came from behind to draw 1-1 in their New Year's Day fixture at Stevenage.It ended a run of four successive away wins in all competitions for the Pilgrims but they would have been pleased to get some reward from their first match of 2026 after falling behind soon after the interval.

Stevenage, beaten only once at home in League One all season, went ahead in the 53rd minute with a close range finish from Luther James-Wildin.

Argyle struggled to find any rhythm at the start of the second period but a triple substitution by head coach Tom Cleverley, which included Xavier Amaechi and the fit again Caleb Watts being sent on, had an almost immediate effect.

Watts provided the assist for Boateng with his first touch of the ball as the Pilgrims drew level in the 68th minute and the players could then celebrate in front of the 1,363 members of the travelling Green Army in the packed South Stand behind the goal.

It was a result which kept Argyle in 21st position in the league table, below Burton Albion on goal difference, who will be their next opponents at Home Park on Sunday.

There were three changes to Argyle's team from the 1-1 draw at home to Wycombe Wanderers on Monday night.

Julio Pleguezuelo and Owen Oseni dropped out of the squad and Amaechi was named among the substitutes.

Coming into the side were Mathias Ross, Joe Ralls and Bim Pepple.

Watts was on the bench after being out of action since September due to a hamstring injury.

Pleguezuelo made his return to action against Wycombe after missing the previous two matches due to a swollen knee and was substituted in the closing stages of the game.