Plymouth Argyle's players showed they have not lost their knack for coming up with important late goals
Managerless Plymouth Argyle reacted well to the New Year's Eve departure of boss Wayne Rooney as the Championship's bottom club twice came from behind to draw with Bristol City.
The visitors twice led with goals from Anis Mehmeti and Jason Knight and, having taken just two points out of a possible 12 prior to Christmas, looked on course for a third straight win of the festive period.
But Rami Al Hajj equalised for the first time just after the break then, after City had gone back in front, defender Julio Pleguezuelo steered in a close-range first goal of the season.
- Published31 December 2024
In the wake of Rooney's exit, it was a subdued opening half hour at Home Park until City woke the game up with a 32nd-minute goal.
Max Bird's defence-splitting pass was latched onto by Nahki Wells, who reached the ball just as Conor Hazard came out to the edge of the box, squared to his left to take out the Argyle keeper - and an offside-looking Mehmeti sidefooted home from 15 yards.
It was the ninth goal of the season for the London-born Albanian - and his third in two games over the festive period after scoring twice in the 3-0 home win over Portsmouth on Sunday.
And it was also his third against Argyle this season, after netting twice in a 4-0 home win when the sides last met at the end of November.
The hosts had looked like strangers in the first half, but within five minutes of the restart, they were level.
All Jason Knight's last five goals have come away from home for the Bristol City skipper
City really should have been 2-0 up straight after the break when, from George Tanner's right-wing cross, Wells' goalbound right-foot shot was brilliantly saved by Hazard diving to his left.
Instead, it was soon 1-1 as Whittaker got to the right byeline, crossed deep and the unmarked Al Hajj kept his cool to turn home a low right-foot shot on the full.
But City were back in front when Scott Twine threaded through to Knight and he dinked home a neat right-foot chip over Hazard as the home keeper came out.
That looked like being that - until a minute into stoppage time when City made a pig's ear of defending Adam Randell's inswinging right-wing free-kick and Pleguezuelo kept his cool to acrobatically hook the ball into the net.
It is a platform to build on for the caretaker management team of Kevin Nancekivell and Joe Edwards as Argyle fans hope for a quick appointment, following speculation that former boss Steven Schumacher may make a rapid return to the club 13 months after leaving for Stoke.
Who's next?
Plymouth, now within five points of safety, are on their travels on Saturday, when they play Stoke City at the Bet 365 Stadium - a first game in charge for new Potters boss Mark Robins.
Bristol City face the first of two home games in eight days - Derby County in the league, followed by Premier League side Wolves in the FA Cup.
'Wayne Rooney's a super human being' - reaction
Plymouth Argyle joint interim boss Kevin Nancekivell told BBC Radio Devon:
"I've seen Wayne. He's obviously disappointed and really sad. It's a horrible time.
"People see the Wayne Rooney who's an England international and legend of world football, but they don't know him as a person.
"I've been privileged to get to know him. He's a super human being and he showed a lot of class when he came and said his goodbyes to us.
"I'm really proud of the players. They did everything we asked and a little bit more. We'll take a point and we'll move on. Plegue's a warrior and a communicator. He deserved his goal and it's got us a point, so that's great."
Bristol City boss Liam Manning told BBC Radio Bristol:
"Had that one gone in from Nahki Wells just after the break it would have been another story if we had gone 2-0 up.
"To then go 1-1 and respond well like we did was good.
"But you have to put games like this to bed. And we've given away soft goals.
"That's a few times we've come away disappointed to drop points - and in a strange way that's what excites me. You can really see the progress in this group of players."
