WEST DERBY Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Bristol City
- Details
- Created on Wednesday, 01 January 2025 17:28
- Last Updated on Thursday, 02 January 2025 06:46
- Published on Wednesday, 01 January 2025 17:28
- Written by ROSS REID at Home Park
The Spanish central defender acrobatically fired home after Adam Randell’s free kick dropped into the six yard box following an aerial challenge between sub Michael Obafemi and City defender Zak Vyner.
City twice led, through Anis Mehmeti and skipper Jason Knight, before being pegged back by Rami Al Hajj and Pleguezuelo.
Argyle first team coach Kevin Nancekivell replaced departed boss Wayne Rooney on the touchline as the greens kicked off 2025 managerless and in unrelenting rain at Home Park.
One notable absentee in the home line-up was central defender Lewis Gibson while injured Argyle first team skipper Joe Edwards, a former Bristol City player, was assisting Nancekivell from the home dugout.
Max O’Leary made a great diving, one handed save on 10 minutes to keep out Al Hajj’s 20 yard shot on the run.
Scottish striker Ryan Hardie was first to the loose ball, after O’Leary’s super stop, but fired over from close range.
Hardie tried a deft back flick to beat O’Leary from Matthew Sorinola’s right wing cross in the 17th minute before the first of two efforts from fit-again Plymouth playmaker Morgan Whittaker.
Whittaker’s first effort from 20 yards was easily held by O’Leary, his second curled over the bar from distance.
Al Hajj was again denied by O’Leary when he latched on to a through ball from skipper-for-the-day Randell and let fly from just outside the penalty area on 23 minutes.
It was a routine save for O’Leary, who was called into action again to keep out an angled effort from Argyle’s on-loan Leeds midfielder Darko Gyabi in the 25th minute.
City took a 32nd minute lead through Mehmeti after two passes carved open Argyle’s defence.
Max Bird’s through ball from the halfway line to Nahki Wells on the edge of the area was passed sideways to Mehmeti, cutting out keeper Conor Hazard and leaving the City striker with an open goal to pass into and home fans calling for offside.
Scott Twine tried his luck from the left but his shot flew just over as City tried to double their advantage.
Recalled keeper Hazard made a brilliant stop to keep out Nahki Wells' thumping 10 yard volley from George Tanner’s cross in the 47th minute.
Argyle levelled on 50 minutes when Whittaker’s deep cross from the right was swept-in at the far post between O’Leary and the upright by in-form midfielder Al Hajj.
O’Leary then got enough glove on to Whittaker’s long-range effort to turn the ball on to the bar and over.
A few minutes later Randell whipped a free kick from the right across the face of goal as Argyle sensed an upset.
Those thoughts quickly evaporated as Twine cleverly put in advancing Knight down the right and the Bristol City skipper cleverly lifted the ball over Hazard and into the far corner as he cut inside infront of 1,734 celebrating fans in the away end.
Attendance 17,005
SWSN Stars Morgan Whittaker (Argyle) Jason Knight (City)
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