Saturday 10th December 2016: Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Doncaster Rovers

Plymouth Argyle returned to the top of the League Two after beating promotion rivals Doncaster Rovers 2-0.

The hosts’ goals came courtesy of Graham Carey and Jake Jevis. Their goals came either side of half time.

The win has put Plymouth Argyle’s season back on track after losing their previous three league matches against Morecambe, Barnet and Grimsby Town.

Rovers exchanged places with Argyle in the league two table. Their defeat moves them down to third in the league table.  Carlisle United’s 1-1 draw away at Luton Town means that they remain in second place.

Rovers missed a penalty shortly before the end of the game. David Fox bought down Matty Blair in the box. Liam Mandeville’s penalty hit the post which led to pandemonium shortly after.

The visitors were then reduced to ten men shortly after the penalty. Doncaster captain James Coppinger was sent off late in the game for violent conduct. He appeared to grab Plymouth ‘goalkeeper Luke McCormick by the neck shortly after Mandeville’s miss.

Rovers’ manager Darren Ferguson said that: “James may have raised his hand towards McCormick but it was not aggressive.”

Carey’s ninth league goal of the season put Argyle ahead. Adam Butler’s poor back pass towards Niall Mason was intercepted by the Irish midfielder. With Mason slipping, Carey found himself in on goal and he cleverly curled the ball around Rovers’ goalkeeper Marko Marosi from just inside the penalty area.

Jervis got the hosts second. Ryan Donaldson was bought down by Andy Butler in the area. Jervis converted the penalty off the underside of the cross bar for his fifth league goal of the season.

The defeat for Rovers was their first in the league since the 22nd of October when they lost 4-2 to Blackpool; the side they also last to in midweek in the Checkatrade trophy.

Despite the visitors having the better chances in the first half, they were unable to score against Argyle who were very solid at the back. Sonny Bradley particularly stood out in the Plymouth back line.

Bradley said that: “We were very solid at the back today.”

He later added: “If we can get a run together like we had at the start of the season, we will definitely finish in the top three this season.”

Plymouth’s next league game is next Saturday away at Accrington Stanley; Doncaster meanwhile come up against Grimsby Town at home.