THE saviour returns, or that was the hope for Argyle in tonight's televised clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Péter Halmosi's absence in the last two games has coincided with two play-off crushing defeats to Coventry and Charlton.

Péter was suspended for the clash with Coventry anyway but the knee injury sustained when earning a red card in the 1-1 draw with Watford also ruled him out of the last weekend's 2-1 defeat to ten-man Charlton.

The Addicks battled to a victory despite goalkeeper Nicky Weaver's dismissal in just the third minute. It was a game that highlighted Péter's importance to Argyle's creative instincts as we struggled to make the advantage count.

With just four games of the season remaining, tonight's Hillsborough showdown with manager Paul Sturrock's former club was a case of win or bust for our play-off dreams.

The game started with Luggy receiving a fantastic reception from the Wednesday fans. It was a touching moment for the Chief Pilgrim, who clearly remains a hero with the Owls.

Unfortunately for Wednesday, their warmth for Luggy became instantly frosty as Péter gave Argyle the lead within a minute of the kick-off.

Jimmy Abdou was upended on the edge of the box and Péter fired in an unremarkable free-kick that took a huge deflection off the Wednesday wall, leaving home 'keeper Lee Grant completely helpless.

It was, without doubt, the best ever start from a Spotlightee - saviour indeed.

The goal had Wednesday briefly rattled, and Jimmy had the chance to double our lead before the home side rallied to produce the period of sustained pressure you would expect from a team desperately fighting for points.

If Péter really was to be our saviour, then it was already abundantly clear that he would have to match creative talents with defensive grit against powerful Owls' winger Jermaine Johnson, who was posing Gary Sawyer real problems.

Péter's involvement for much of the middle section of the first-half was limited to that of an exasperated spectator, as a blue and white onslaught swept towards Argyle. You always felt, however, that he was the man most likely to relieve the pressure with a piece of Magyar magic.

Johnson was the prominent threat for Wednesday and, with natural left-back Jim Paterson operating on Argyle's right wing, it seemed a swap with Péter could only help the beleaguered Sawyer.

Jermaine Easter's determined run down the right provided some respite when he was felled by Tommy Spurr, but Péter's subsequent free-kick was clipped wastefully over the bar.

Argyle were clinging on and Péter was possibly guilty of allowing Johnson too much space when a half-clearance from Luke McCormick fell to the sprightly winger, who, thankfully, fired over.

Half-time arrived with Argyle's lead somehow intact. Well played Péter and well played Lady Luck.

Steve MacLean had a glorious chance to break Wednesday's resistance immediately after the interval but he was let down by a poor first touch, and when the ball found a way to Péter, the home team were able to crowd him out.

Péter found considerably more space ten minutes later and drilled in a deep cross for Paterson, but, again, a disappointing touch enabled Wednesday to snuff out the opening.

Half-time team talks are where managers earn their money and, judging by the first 15 minutes of the second period, Luggy's was far better than his opposite number, Brian Laws.

Péter then saw his game brought to a premature close by the introduction of the arguably more defensive-minded Chris Clark. Our focus, therefore, shifted to Clark for the remainder of the game.

Unfortunately, Clark's first contribution was to get his shoes in a right muddle and completely hash up a volleyed pass down the line, much to the amusement of an otherwise disgruntled home crowd.

Chris soon improved with a couple of telling interceptions, although saviour status had now passed to the villain against Charlton, as McCormick produced a couple of fabulous to keep Argyle in front.

However, there was nothing he could do about Tommy Spurr's stunning volley with just ten minutes remaining.

An unsatisfactory draw for both teams and the dream is probably now over.