Plymouth Argyle beaten by Sheffield United despite improved display

Plymouth Argyle were beaten by Championship leaders Sheffield United 2-0 at Bramall Lane as they slipped to a fourth successive defeat but at least this was an improved performance from Wayne Rooney’s side which they can look to build on.

It was not until Blades’ substitute Kieffer Moore converted an 88th minute penalty that the home side could feel comfortable after a game in which the Pilgrims proved to be very competitive.

They could have been excused for fearing the worst when Gustavo Hamer fired United into a 19th minute lead but Argyle responded well to falling behind and Darko Gyabi should have put them level later in the first half but shot wide from an excellent position.

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It then took an excellent fingertip save from former Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper in the second period to prevent Ryan Hardie from guiding a Mustapha Bundu into the net as the Pilgrims proved to be more than a match for the hosts.

However, they could not find a way to draw level and Moore made the game safe for United with his late spot kick after Brendan Galloway had slid in and fouled Tom Davies.

Rami Al Hajj returned to Argyle’s team at Bramall Lane as one of three changes from the 2-1 defeat by Swansea City at Home Park. There were also starts for Hardie and Michael Obafemi as the trio of Nathanael Ogbeta, Andre Gray and Callum Wright dropped down to the bench.

Hardie led the Pilgrims’ attack in a 4-1-4-1 formation, with Mustapha Bundu, Gyabi, Al Hajj and Obafemi the quartet behind him, while Adam Randell was in the deep midfield role.

Captain Lewis Gibson played at centre-back alongside Kornel Szucs, while Bali Mumba and Galloway were either side of them.

The Argyle ‘keeper was Dan Grimshaw, who was signed from League One outfit Blackpool in August after Cooper was transferred to United.

More than 1,000 Argyle fans made the trip to South Yorkshire, which was superb support considering the team’s winless away record this season and with it being close to Christmas.

The Green Army gave Cooper a good reception when he ran towards the goal behind which they were watching from before the start of the game.

Cooper was involved in some early action when he came out of his penalty area and made a diving headed clearance as Hardie tried to run onto the end of a long ball out of defence from Randell.

Bundu later put in a cross from the right which was just too far ahead of Hardie as he hurled himself towards it and Obafemi could not get the ball on target from a very tight angle beyond the far post, but at least it showed positive intent from the visitors.

United's first goal attempt was a shot from outside the box by Callum O'Hare but the ball sailed harmlessly over the bar. It followed a good headed clearance from Bundu after a free-kick had been played into the Argyle box.

For the 10th time in their last 11 Championship matches, the Pilgrims conceded the first goal as the blades went ahead in the 19th minute.

A corner was headed away to Gibson but it only went as far as Hamer and he sent a 20-yard shot into the net, despite Grimshaw getting a touch on the ball.

Argyle tried to come up with an immediate response and Al Hajj was not far wide with a curling 20-yard strike from a central position.

Grimshaw then needed to make a good save, scrambling low to his right, to keep out a shot from O’Hare as United went in search of a second goal.

Cooper confidently caught one cross from the right by Al Hajj as Argyle had decent amounts of possession inside United territory without being able to make much of it.

Obafemi did make one good break down the left after a pass outside to him by Randell. The Burnley loanee took on Alfie Gilchrist and then crossed to Al Hajj, whose back flick towards goal was straight at Cooper and he caught the ball.

Argyle should have drawn level in the 35th minute after Obafemi and Galloway combined well to win the ball off Gilchrist. Galloway cut it back to Gyabi, who had a clear sight of Cooper's goal from 12 yards out and somehow he put his shot wide.

The midfielder was not even that close to scoring with his attempt and Argyle could not have expected to get a better chance than that to equalise.

The Pilgrims continued to more than hold their own against the league leaders and limited them to just two shots on target in the first half while having a couple of good opportunities themselves but, crucially, without converting them.

The fact that Argyle had 60 per cent of the possession, and 18 touches of the ball in the United box, was evidence of a much better away day display from them.

The Pilgrims continued to take the game to the Blades after the break with a cross-shot from Bundu deflected wide of Cooper’s near post for a corner.

United boss Chris Wilder responded to this by making a triple substitution in the 52nd minute as Jamie Shackleton, Sam McCallum and Kieffer Moore were sent on for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Harrison Burrows and Ryan One.

There was another decent chance for Argyle when Randell lifted a free-kick into the hosts’ penalty area and Gibson got in a powerful header which clipped off the outside of Cooper’s right post, although he did have it covered had the ball been on target.

Argyle went even closer to an equaliser soon afterwards when Bundu crossed from the right and Hardie flicked the ball towards goal, only for Cooper to show his razor sharp reflexes and push it away.

It was an excellent stop and earned plenty of applause from the home supporters, especially those in the massive Kop behind the goal, who had a good view of it.

That should have given Argyle the belief they could still get something out of the game, although United’s substitutions had given them a lift and seen them have more of the ball than previously.

Obafemi made a good break but then fired tamely wide before Rooney made two Pilgrims’ changes in the 74th minute as Gray and Adam Forshaw were sent on for Hardie and Gyabi respectively. Two more substitutions soon followed as Freddie Issaka and Wright replaced Bundu and Obafemi.

United wrapped up their win in the 88th minute with an emphatically taken penalty from Moore after Galloway fouled Tom Davies inside the box, with referee Farai Hallam having a clear view of the incident. The final 2-0 scoreline was harsh on Argyle who had given their all throughout the game but without getting any reward.

ARGYLE: Dan Grimshaw; Kornel Szucs, Bali Mumba, Kornel Szucs, Lewis Gibson, Brendan Galloway; Adam Randell; Mustapha Bundu (Freddie Issaka 80 mins), Darko Gyabi (Adam Forshaw 74 mins), Rami Al Hajj, Michael Obafemi (Callum Wright 80 mins); Ryan Hardie (Andre Gray 74 mins).

Substitutes (not used): Conor Hazard, Nathanael Ogbeta, Jordan Houghton, Julio Pleguezuelo, Victor Palsson.

SHEFFIELD UNITED: Michael Cooper; Alfie Gilchrist, Harry Souttar, Jack Robinson, Harrison Burrows (Sam McCallum 52 mins); Tom Davies (Rhys Norrington-Davies 89 mins), Sydie Peck; Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (Jamie Shackleton 52 mins), Callum O’Hare (Rhian Brewster 86 mins), Gustavo Hamer; Ryan One (Kieffer Moore 52 mins).

Substitutes (not used): Adam Davies, Jamal Baptiste, Andre Brooks, Billy Blacker.

REFEREE: Farai Hallam

ATTENDANCE: 27,237

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