More misery for Argyle after another home defeat

PLYMOUTH

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

Owen Dale battles for the ball Conor Hazard punches clear

Argyle were beaten at Home Park for the sixth time out of nine League One fixtures this season as they lost 0-1 to Bradford City on Saturday.In a tight game where it always looked like the first goal would be very important to the final outcome, it was former Pilgrims' player-of-the-year Antoni Sarcevic who gave the Bantams the lead with a penalty in the 57th minute.

Argyle never really looked like coming up with an equaliser as the absence of their 10-goal top scorer Lorent Tolaj, who started a three-match suspension after his red card in the 3-0 home defeat by Northampton Town the previous Saturday, was clearly felt.

There were boos from the Green Army at the end of the game but the fans had stuck with their side throughout what was another hugely disappointing and frustrating afternoon for them.

Defender Julio Pleguezuelo started for Argyle after making his comeback from a long-term knee injury in the midweek 1-0 Vertu Trophy victory over Leyton Orient.

There was also a full Pilgrims' debut for experienced midfielder Joe Ralls, who had played twice as a substitute after joining on a short-term contract as a free agent last month.

Overall, there were five changes from Argyle's defeat by Northampton, with Joe Edwards, Jamie Paterson and Owen Oseni all coming into the side.

It was a much more experienced Argyle team than seen before this season with the likes of Conor Hazard, Pleguezuelo, Paterson, Edwards, Ralls and Owen Dale all in the starting lineup.

While Tolaj was suspended, the quartet of Kornel Szucs, Mathias Ross, Brendan Galloway and Law McCabe all dropped down to the substitutes' bench.