Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Burton Albion: Pilgrims go top of League One with impressive win

Ryan Broom scored for the first time since his loan move to Plymouth from Peterborough at the start of the season

Plymouth Argyle went top of League One after an impressive victory over Burton Albion.

Argyle's top scorer Ryan Hardie curled a seventh-minute effort onto the bar before Conor Grant opened the scoring soon after with a well-taken effort from the edge of the box.

Hardie set up Ryan Broom to side-foot in the second from close range just before the break.

Lucas Akins gave Burton a lifeline as he turned and shot low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box with a rare Albion effort, but the hosts claimed the victory their possession and endeavour deserved.

With previous leaders Wigan Athletic and Sunderland not playing because of international call-ups, Argyle's victory saw Ryan Lowe's side leapfrog both to go top of the table.

It is the Devon club's highest league position since they were relegated from the Championship in May 2010.

The Pilgrims were unstoppable for much of the first half as Kieran Agard - starting a league game for the first time in 659 days - saw a swivelling volley go just wide after two minutes before strike partner Hardie hit the frame of the goal soon after following some good work in the corner of the penalty area.

Grant's opener came from an excellent passing move and was no more than the hosts' possession deserved as an unmarked Hardie saw a 27th-minute header saved by Ben Garratt at the far post three minutes before Thomas Hamer hit the side-netting with Burton's first effort.

Argyle caught Burton on the counter-attack for their second - keeper Michael Cooper gathered a corner and his long throw set Hardie free, with the Scot racing into the area to set up Broom.

Burton improved after the break, but Akins' goal came against the run of play after Argyle again had a chance to put the game out of sight when Jordan Garrick had an effort well saved.

Akins got in behind the Pilgrims' defence and had a cross hacked away with 20 minutes to go as Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's men went in search of an equaliser.

And they almost came away with a point when Daniel Jebbison missed a golden chance to level with five minutes left when he shot low into the side-netting having found some space in the box.

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