Frustration for Pilgrims as two points slip from their grasp

PLYMOUTH Argyle came within seconds of a first-ever win at the Pirelli Stadium only to be denied by a Burton Albion equaliser in the eighth minute of added time.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

Defender Adrian Mariappa headed home from close range as the Pilgrims had to settle for a 2-2 draw after staging an excellent second half fightback.

Bottom-but-one Burton had led against the League One table-toppers at the interval after a 41st minute strike from Bobby Kamwa.

Argyle gave a flat and uninspiring performance until the introduction of Niall Ennis and Ryan Hardie as 54th minute substitutes.

Hardie equalised from the penalty spot soon afterwards, following a foul on Ennis, and Bali Mumba then fired the Pilgrims into the lead in the 74th minute.

Argyle were on course to retain a four-point lead at the top, after second-placed Ipswich Town won 2-0 away to Exeter City earlier in the afternoon, only for Mariappa to come up with his last-gasp leveller.

It was a result which extended the Pilgrims' unbeaten league run to 15 games but, in the circumstances, it would have felt very much like two points dropped rather than one gained.

Ahead of the game, Argyle had trained at the nearby St George's Park, the England national football centre, on Friday afternoon.

It was during the session that defender James Wilson picked up an ankle knock which ruled him out of playing against Burton.

With James Bolton and Dan Scarr also still sidelined, Argyle were down to their final three defenders - Brendan Galloway, Macaulay Gillesphey and Nigel Lonwijk.

It was Gillesphey's first appearance for Argyle since he played as a stoppage time substitute at the end of the 2-1 home league win against Ipswich Town on September 25 as he returned from a groin injury.

Schumacher made three changes from the side which started the 1-1 draw away to Lincoln City last time out.

The trio of Gillesphey, Matt Butcher and Sam Cosgrove were all called up, with Ennis and Hardie dropping down to the bench while Wilson was injured.