Argyle are promotion Held to a draw as battle intensifies
PLYMOUTH Argyle battled out a tense, absorbing 0-0 draw against League One play-off rivals Sunderland at a packed Home Park.
It was a game of few clear cut chances but it was not for the lack of trying from two evenly-matched sides who played with admirable commitment and attacking intent.
The result ended a run of six successive home wins for the Pilgrims but it was their seventh consecutive clean sheet.
Argyle went close to getting a late winning goal when a shot from left wing-back Conor Grant was deflected narrowly wide for a corner.
The Pilgrims had come under pressure from the Black Cats during spells of the second half but they defended solidly and with discipline, which meant goalkeeper Mike Cooper was not called into action too often.
Argyle stayed in fourth position in the league table, two points clear of sixth-placed Sunderland, who have a game in hand on them, and Wycombe Wanderers.
The latter, who have played the same number of matches as the Pilgrims, drew 1-1 away to AFC Wimbledon to remain in fifth spot.
There was a welcome return to action for Argyle for 19-goal top scorer Ryan Hardie, who had missed the previous three matches due to a thigh injury.
He was joined in attack by Niall Ennis, with the duo of Jordon Garrick and Luke Jephcott dropping down to the substitutes’ bench after starting in the 2-0 defeat at Wycombe on Good Friday.
Those were the only changes made by manager Steven Schumacher to his team for the Pilgrims’ penultimate home league game of the regular season.
Argyle were without Joe Edwards for a second consecutive match due to a sprained ankle so they were again captained by James Wilson.
The match was played at a frantic early pace with tackles flying in from both teams and it set the tone for the rest of the contest.
Referee Carl Brook let the game flow, although he did issue some words of warning to Sunderland midfielder Jay Matete after he made a late tackle on Panutche Camara.
Argyle were having the better of
the opening stages, without fashioning any opportunities, but Sunderland did have a decent scoring opportunity in the 27th minute when Elliot Embleton cut inside onto his left foot but blasted the ball high and wide.
The Pilgrims continued to carry most of the attacking threat as Danny Mayor had a shot blocked behind for a corner by Sunderland skipper Corry Evans.
From the resulting set piece, the ball was headed away by Sunderland but only as far as Argyle defender Macaulay Gillesphey who sent a curling 20-yard shot just over the crossbar.
Cooper was not called into action until the 35th minute when he showed bravery to dive at the feet of Sunderland striker Ross Stewart and make an important save.
Stewart had got in behind the Pilgrims’ defence after the ball was played over the top of them by Embleton but the striker’s poor first touch gave Cooper the chance to make his vital intervention.
Argyle had the best scoring chance of the first half in the 41st minute after some excellent build-up play on the left ended with a cross from Grant.
He picked out Hardie whose close range header went inches wide of Patterson’s right post when most inside Home Park thought it was going to go into the net.
Into the second half and it was Sunderland who had the first chance to open the scoring.
The Black Cats were able to play the ball in behind Argyle for striker Nathan Broadhead and his low angled shot was kicked away by the outstretched left boot of Cooper.
Sunderland made a strong start after the interval and, for the first time, put the Pilgrims under some serious pressure.
Argyle did not help themselves by giving the ball too easily, although Camara was putting in a tremendous shift to repeatedly win tackles and break up attacks.
Argyle defender Dan Scarr had to play the ball over his own bar for a corner shortly before the hour mark after a deep cross from Dennis Cirkin was hooked back from beyond the far post by Broadhead.
There was a big blow for Argyle when Camara had to be substituted in the 65th minute after a tackle on him by Matete and he was replaced by Adam Randell.
Moments later, Grant went close to breaking the deadlock for Argyle with a side foot shot from the top of the penalty area which was deflected narrowly wide for a corner.
With the tension building all the time, Sunderland had penalty appeals ignored by the match officials after Matete collided with Grant.
Sunderland top scorer Stewart then sent a shot wide of the far post before Argyle replaced Ennis with Jephcott in the 76th minute.
At the same time, Patrick Roberts came on for Embleton as the Black Cats continued to have more of the attacking play than their hosts.
Argyle’s third and final substitution saw Garrick replace Hardie before the Pilgrims went close to scoring in the 86th minute after a superb run and cross from Sessegnon.
The loan signing from Fulham found Grant, who cut inside onto his less favoured right foot and had a shot which was deflected narrowly wide for a corner.
Despite four minutes of added on time being played by the referee the deadlock continued until the final whistle, with Argyle now having scored only one goal in their last five games.