IT’S ELL OF A BLOW AS GAS STRIKE
PLYMOUTH boss Derek Adams believes the omens are good for Argyle despite blowing a chance to climb to the top of the table.
The Pilgrims were on course to leapfrog Leyton Orient at the League Two summit after Jake Jervis broke the deadlock in the 85th minute with his sixth goal in the last seven games.
But Ellis Harrison rescued a point for the Gas thanks to a 90th-minute penalty after the substitute was brought down by Pilgrims keeper Luke McCormick.
“We have lost two points,” said Adams. “We had the win in our grasp with four minutes to go and we could have won the game.
“It’s our first draw but we have won five and are delighted with the start we have made. We haven’t moved in the table and we are still second. But we are pleased with where we are.
“The game came to life in the last 15 minutes and both sides had chances. Rovers are a good side and they will do well this season. This was a good advert for League Two football.”
Plymouth threatened in the opening stages with Graham Carey letting fly with a 25-yard free-kick which was pushed around the post by Lee Nicholls.
Rovers had two chances on the stroke of half-time. First Matty Taylor turned sharply before forcing McCormick into a smart save low down to his right.
And then Taylor was again denied by the Plymouth keeper after scuffing a shot straight into McCormick’s arms.
Only the heroics of Nicholls denied Argyle an opener on the hour mark after Boateng’s cross found its way to the back post where the ball hit Jervis’ knee and the Rovers keeper somehow tipped it over the bar.
Plymouth were screaming for a penalty in the 82nd minute when Ryan Brunt went down under a challenge from Tom Lockyer.
The game came to life in the final five minutes with Plymouth drawing first blood after Jervis bundled Gregg Wylde’s cross past Nicholls.
Yet there was to be a final twist in the tale when Harrison raced into the area only to be impeded by onrushing keeper McCormick.
The striker kept his cool to fire the spot-kick straight down the middle and, in stoppage time, he could have won it but McCormick produced a wonder save to tip his diving header over the bar.
Rovers boss Darrell Clarke said: “I thought it wasn’t going to be our day when they scored with five minutes to go. But the boys kept going and their character shone through.
“We had lost three on the spin so it was important to get something from the game.
“Both sides played football the right way and it was a good advert for League Two. It was pretty end to end stuff. “That is seven points from our four away games which is a decent return. We respect all teams and, on our day, we can be a problem for any side.”