Pilgrims’ progress stalled as they draw a blank at Burton

PLYMOUTH Argyle had to settle for a point from a scrappy League One encounter against mid-table Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium in a game of very few clear-cut chances.

It could be an important result, though, come the end of the season as it moved the Pilgrims closer to a possible play-off place.

They are still in fourth position in the table, five points clear of seventh-placed Wycombe Wanderers, who will host Argyle at Adams Park on Good Friday.

It was Argyle’s first goal-less draw in 42 league games this term and the visitors only had two on-target attempts, while Burton had one more but did not seriously test goalkeeper Mike Cooper.

A bobbly pitch did not help the Pilgrims but they would still have hoped to come up with more quality on the ball than they did and their set piece delivery was poor too.

Argyle were unchanged from the 1-0 win against Oxford United at Home Park the previous Saturday.

Conor Grant and Steven Sessegnon were brought back into the squad as substitutes after recovering from groin and ankle injuries respectively.

Burton boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink shook up his side after their 3-0 defeat away to Morecambe.

The former Chelsea and Netherlands striker made five changes, which included giving a debut to goalkeeper Matej Kovar. The 21-yearold, who had been signed on loan from Mancheser United at the end of January, replaced Ben Garratt, who had been an ever present for the Brewers in league action.

Without a recognised striker in their starting line-up, Burton went with midfielders Jonny Smith and Harry Chapman as wide attacking players rather than in central positions.

Argyle were immediately on the front foot and inside the opening minute there was a lecture for Burton’s former Chelsea defender

Michael Mancienne from referee Leigh Doughty after a foul on striker Niall Ennis.

Jordan Houghton took the resulting free-kick from the edge of the penalty area and hit it deep beyond the far post.

Skipper Joe Edwards made one of his trademark late runs and got in a header which seemed destined to end up in the net but Brewers’ captain John Brayford made a last-ditch clearance.

Argyle’s players appealed that the ball had crossed the line but the match officials did not agree with them.

Danny Mayor had the next chance for the Pilgrims after a break down the right by Jordon Garrick and a low cross into the midfielder. Mayor cut back inside onto his left foot at the top of the Burton box but his shot was blocked by Mancienne.

Burton had their first opportunity soon afterwards when right wingback Tom Hamer had a far post header comfortably caught by Cooper.

Argyle defender James Wilson sent a sidefoot shot over the bar from 18 yards out after a quickly taken freekick led to Garrick getting in a cross from the right which was only partially cleared by the hosts.

Burton had the next chance when a cross from Harry Chapman was headed out by Dan Scarr and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson got in a firsttime shot from outrside the penalty area which went wide.

Chapman had a decent chance for the hosts in the 40th minute but could not make proper contact with his header after a cross from the right by Smith and the ball went wide wide.

Argyle did not make the most of a promising attack after Mayor won the ball back inside Burton territory. The midfielder played the ball to Garrick, who tried to pick out the run of Ennis but his pass was over-hit and Kovar was able to deal with the danger.

The first half ended with just one on-target attempt from either side, and there was no immediate improvement from either team after the break as Argyle continued to find it difficult find any fluency due to the bobbly pitch and the determination of Burton.

The Brewers threatened to break the deadlock when Joe Powell surged clear after a clever pass from William Kokolo but he delayed his shot and Pilgrims’ defender Macaulay Gillesphey was able to tackle him.

Burton went even closer to scoring just before the hour mark when Chapman’s curling shot hit teammate Hamer close to the line and the ball bounced away from goal.

Grant was a 60th minute substitute for Law before Gillesphey’s curling free-kick went over the bar for Argyle after Ennis had been fouled.

Powell then had a low shot easily saved by Cooper.

Luke Jephcott was a 66th minute substitute for Garrick as Argyle manager Steven Schumacher made his second change of the game in pursuit of an opening goal.

With one of his first touches of the ball, Jephcott shot wide of the far post after he was set up by a pass inside to him from Edwards.

Mayor also fired off target after cutting in from the left flank as clearcut chances remained elusive for the Pilgrims.

Even set pieces proved unproductive for Argyle as from one promising position Mayor overhit his cross and Kovar was able to make an easy catch.

Former Burton loan signing Ryan Broom replaced Ennis in the 86th minute and had a header saved by Kovar as the game entered stoppage time.

Edwards was injured in the final moments of the match but had to stay on the pitch as Argykle have made all their substitutions.