Match Report 3rd April 2015: Plymouth Argyle vs Burton Albion

John Sheridan made just one change to the starting team that beat Cheltnham away 3-0. Everton loanee Gethin Jones started ahead of Anthony O'Connor for his debut for the pilgrims.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made 2 changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Stevenage. Abdenasser El Khayati and Stuart Beavon made way for Liverpool loanee Kevin Stewart and Birmingham loanee Denny Johnstone.

Burton's first real chance came after a free kick won by Matthew Palmer which incidently won the visitors the first corner of the match. Luke McCormick tipped away the following corner only for the rebound to fall Adam McGurk whose shot failed to test the Argyle 'keeper.

Argyle's first chance came from the following counter attack, debutant Gethin Jones went on a blistering run down the right hand side playing a nice exchange with Lewis Allesandra with Jones' resulting shot winning the home side the first corner of the match much of the delight to the home supporters.

Luke McCormick was nearly caught out in the 11th minute after a dipping half volley from Lucas Atkins whistled just over the cross bar.

Burton again showed their early dominance in the 13th minute after a clever 1-2 between Matthew Palmer and Denny Johnstone sent Palmer clean on goal with his shot beating McCormick only to be cleared by Peter Hartley (celebrating his 27th birthday) for a corner. From the corner Shane Cansdell-Sheriff's was cleared off the line by Bobby Reid.

Phil Edwards could've easily been sent off after sliding in obnoxiously into Holmes-Dennis and was very lucky not to even concede a fouled.

Over the first 20 minutes, Argyle were struggling to break into the Albion penalty area after a 35 yard strike from Jason Banton was all the home side could conjure up with the shot really not testing the opposition 'keeper.

2 minutes later, Plymouth had a very good passing build up with Reuben Reid playing in Jones who picks out Bobby Reid who squared it back to Reuben Reid who scuffed his chance.


In the 28th minute Burton had a good chance to go one goal ahead from a John McGurk header following a good cross Lucas Akins although his went straight to Luke McCormick. McCormick throw sent Gethin Jones on a blistering run down the right hand side winning the greens a throw from a dangerous area.

Burton then took the lead in the 32nd minute. A long range effort from Liverpool loanee Kevin Stewart took a deflection off of Carl McHugh and the shot looped over Luke McCormick and came off of the inside of the post before ending up in the back of the net.

Burton were yet again lucky to escape a red card in the 34th after some poor defending from John Mousinho sent Jason Banton through on goal, Mousinho bought him down last men conceding a dangerous free kick and was very fortunate only to receive a yellow card. Jason Banton's free kick however went straight over the crossbar. 

Holmes-Dennis was trying to be a creative spark late on in the first half, a good skill-full run put him in for a good cross which picked out Gethin Jones at the back post whose header was blocked by the Albion defence.

On the edge of half time Bobby Reid's long range free kick forced a decent save from the opposition 'keeper. 

The first chance of the second half fell to Argyle from a corner well won by Jason Banton however it failed to come to anything. Banton continued to cause problems for the Burton defence winning another free kick with his trickery just minutes later.

In the 52nd minute Bobby Reid took a very cleverly chipped in free kick from the edge of the box which was volleyed by Rueben Reid and cannoned off of the post. 

Plymouth certainly dominated the second half with chances even coming from there defenders with captain Curtis Nelson being denied from close range just a minute later.

Burton Albion had a chance from a set piece of their own in the 59th minute after a well taken corner from Matthew Palmer was headed just wide.

A minute later, Burton made their first change of the match with Denny Johnstone making way for Stuart Beavon.

In the 65th minute, Plymouth made two changes of their own with Lewis Allesandra being replaced by Zak Ansah and Jason Banton being replaced by Ollie Lee.

Burton had two good chances in the space of a minute soon after with a free kick coming to nothing and some dodgy play from Ollie Lee forced a good clearance from Holmes-Dennis

Argyle's top goalscorer Reuben Reid was then taken off in place of Ryan Brunt in the 73rd minute. In the 77th minute Burton bought on George Taft in place of Matthew Palmer.

In the 83rd minute Stuart Beavon was booked for a foul awarding Argyle a dangerous free kick. Adam McGurk was then forced off in place of Abdenassar El-Khayati. The free kick was met by a Peter Hartley header which was cleared for a corner by Phillip Edwards.

Argyle then got their long-awaited equaliser from the corner. The corner was then taken by Bobby Reid picking out Carl McHugh at the near post who rose like a salmon with a powerful header going into the Burton net.

In the 89th minute, Plymouth thought they had taken all 3 points after a cross from Curtis Nelson was met by Ryan Brunt with his header going just wide in a chance that would have won them the game.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will be disappointed to concede a late goal as all Plymouth offered was the long ball. Burton's main threats came from Akins and Palmer who tested Plymouth's defence at times

John Sheridan will be happy with a point in a game where they were luck to take a draw. Burton proved why they are top of the league. Plymouth's key performances came from debutant Gethin Jones who highly impressed on his first and Man Of The Match Carl McHugh who despite his deflection leading to the first goal, was solid all game and contributed with a late equaliser.

Burton Albion's lead at the top of the SkyBet league 2 table is now lowered to just a point and Plymouth Argyle stay in 7th with their play off hopes still in tact.