Blog

Battling against Accrington Stanley lost to promotion-chasing Plymouth Argyle as they finished the game with ten men.

Matt Butcher’s 14, former Reds^he A minute’s deflected effort and late goal from substitute Conor Grant gave the Pilgrims all three points as Mo Sangare saw red for Stanley in the 51st^street minute for two yellow cards.

Defender Sangare entered the starting lineup in place of the suspended Doug Tharme, while Cody Adedoyin was given the nod to start ahead of Shaun Whalley.

Stanley started well and, after nine minutes, had some great handball appeals in the box with Mitch Clark’s cross being deflected offhanded by referee James Bell and the loose ball falling to Adedoyin, whose shot was deflected in the first. post by Callum Burton.

Plymouth took the lead on 14 minutes when Butcher’s shot from outside the box deflected wide of Baba Fernandes and slipped in, stranding Toby Savin.

The Pilgrims went for a second and Jordan Houghton’s free kick was magnificently deflected by Savin.

Stanley was still at it, Tommy Leigh’s delivery causing some trouble in the Plymouth area, but the Reds were unable to seriously trouble Burton again before half-time.

Michael Nottingham did well to block a Hardie shot and just before half time Hardie broke through but the move ended with Butcher wide.

Stanley started the second half on his front foot with Leigh’s ball in the box picked up by Burton just before Adedoyin was able to pounce.

However, the Reds suffered a blow when defender Sangare was shown red in the 51st minute for a second booking.

Savin did well to prevent Hardie from breaking through and then thankfully collected Finn Azaz’s header from close range as Plymouth searched for a second.

However, it was the ten-man Stanley who enjoyed a period of pressure. They came close with a 30-yard free kick from Leigh in the 65th minute that Burton pushed in acrobatically.

The locals put several balls into the area, forcing the pilgrims to defend desperately.

But, on 78 minutes, Plymouth received the ball in midfield and Mayor fed substitute Grant, who fired low into the back of the net.

Hardie hit both posts in the dying minutes as Stanley suffered a third straight loss.

Stanley: Savin, Fernandes, Sangare, Nottingham (Pickles), Clark, Leigh, Martin, Longelo, McConville, Adedoyin (Whalley), Pressley (Lowe)

Subs: Isherwood, Nolan, Butler-Oyedeji, Quirk

Yellow: McConville, Martin, Longelo

red: sangare

Crowd: 2,489 (689 from Plymouth)