ICE-COOL CAREY STUNS MILLERS
DEREK Adams showered praise on Graham Carey after he converted a last-gasp penalty to keep his Plymouth side’s play-off hopes on track.
The Pilgrims’ rise from rock bottom in December to within touching distance of the top six was knocked offcourse when Richie Towell fired Rotherham into a 33rdminute lead.
Yet Plymouth are a tough nut to crack and Joel Grant snatched a 56th-minute equaliser before Will Vaulks dived in on Carey to present the hosts with a 91st-minute penalty.
Carey kept his cool to fire the ball into the top corner to keep the Pilgrims two points behind Scunthorpe, who they play at Glanford Park on Tuesday.
Plymouth boss Adams beamed: “I’m delighted. It was big pressure on Graham but he dealt with it well.
“The responsibility was huge but he put it right in the top of the net. It was a fantastic finish. I am not surprised as Graham is a big-game player for us.
“We have had a lot of setbacks throughout the season which the players have had to deal with.
“Today was a prime example and we have showed our character again. It is great that we take it to the last two games.”
Plymouth raced out of the traps and forced Rotherham keeper Marek Rodak into two early saves.
Ruben Lameiras swapped passes with Carey only for Rodak to spring off his line and save at the feet of the striker.
From the resulting corner, the ball was cleared to David Fox on the edge of the box and his fierce drive was scrambled to safety by the Millers stopper.
But the visitors took the lead following a rapid breakaway after Zak Vyner dwelt on the ball for too long.
David Ball had the presence of mind to hold on to possession for long enough to send Towell racing in on goal and he swept the ball into the bottom corner.
Yet the home side came roaring back after the interval and Carey teed up Grant for his second goal in two games, a deft right-footed finish into the bottom corner.
Caolan Lavery thought he had won it when he stabbed the ball home from close range only for his celebrations to be cut short by the linesman for offside. Moments later Carey sealed the win from the spot.
Rotherham boss Paul Warne groaned: “Will went to ground which is always dangerous.
“He plays with his heart on his sleeve but I thought he got the ball. The referee thinks it is a penalty from his angle but I don’t from my angle.
“It is all about opinions but I don’t think my players deserved that. Caolan looks onside for the goal he scored. So it is hugely disappointing. The lads are hurting because they don’t want to lose football matches. But we have to learn to be more ruthless going into the playoffs.”