Argyle’s winning run came to an end as they were beaten by a single goal by Burton Albion.
Jack Armer’s goal, with just under 20 minutes remaining, was the difference between the sides, as the visitors produced a disciplined away performance.
For Argyle’s part, they found it hard to get going, and drew a rare blank in front of goal, despite creating a large number of chances.
For the fourth successive league game, Tom Cleverley selected the same starting 11. This meant the back four in front of Murphy Cooper consisted of Wes Harding, Alex Mitchell, Julio Pleguezuelo and Matty Sorinola; Ronan Curtis and Oli Irow continued on the flanks outside of Harvey White and Tyreeq Bakinson; and Will Evans and Bim Pepple played as the front two.
Pepple was the first to have a big chance in the game – and what a chance it was. It came bang on 12 minutes, when Harding got forward with purpose, and passed to Curtis on the right. The cross from Curtis was high and swirling, deceiving goalkeeper Corey Addai, who came for it and missed. Perhaps, in turn, Addai’s failure to capture it got in Pepple’s eyeline, as the forward, who came into the game with four goals in his last four games, headed wide.
Only two minutes later, a chance for Burton. Kain Adom, back starting a game for Burton for the first time in six months because of injury, got the better of a shoulder-to-shoulder encounter with Pleguezuelo on the left side but, as Adom looked to drive towards goal, Mitchell interjected, with a strong, sliding challenge.
Burton were very much in this, and they wasted an opportunity presented to them. A flicked cross from their right did not look to be causing much strife, but Curtis and Harding jumped for the same ball, and the flick saw it land with left wing-back Armer. However, his effort lacked composure, and sailed into the stand.
Forward went Argyle, next, and the Greens were unlucky when Irow produced a delightful, clipped cross which only just evaded Pepple and Curtis, arriving.
Just after the half-hour mark, Argyle executed a corner beautifully, save for the most important part. The little touch-and-lay-off involving Curtis and White was nicely done, with the latter’s cross finding Evans, whose movement to generate his own space was spot on. However, his header was too high, and went over the bar.
At half-time, Burton brought on Matthew Dennis, for Adom, and the visitors had a bright start to the second period, with Raphael Borges Rodrugues firing in a low ball to Armer, whose shot was superbly blocked by Harding.
Moments later, Charlie Webster looked to capitalise on Argyle not clearing a corner, and hit his effort from a tight angle onto the crossbar and over.
Argyle were not quite themselves, not the free-flowing goalscoring unit of late. Much of that is credit to Burton, but the Green Army seemed to sense they could assist, and noticeably raised the decibel level. They were still at full cry when Curtis tried to turn Bakinson’s cross home. It was on target, but Addai pouched.
Next it was Tom Cleverley’s turn to try to alter the dynamic. He did this by bringing on captain Joe Edwards and Caleb Watts, for Sorinola and Evans.
Burton had a free-kick, which George Evans hit on target and Cooper saved. Evans hurt himself in the process and had to go off for a minute, and in the 60 seconds’ worth of numerical advantage, Argyle worked the ball to the edge of the area, where Pepple turned his man, looked to be held, but nothing was given.
With just over 20 minutes to go, there came another Argyle double change. Curtis and Bakinson gave way for Xavier Amaechi and Bradley Ibrahim to come on.
However, almost immediately, Burton scored. Borges Rodrigues tricked his way into the area, and a shot was saved by Cooper, but it fell to Armer, and he was able to smuggle it home.
Mathias Ross had to come on for the ailing Pleguezuelo, as Argyle made their final change, before Watts had a header pushed over by Addai.
On 77 minutes came another big chance for Pepple. Ross was calm in dealing with a free-kick that had been taken, near the touch line, by the Burton goalkeeper. Ross returned the ball forward, and found Pepple in behind, with Addai retreating. Pepple tried to lift the ball over the recovering keeper, but did not get the thrust he wanted, and Addai gratefully gathered.
The ‘not our day’ feeling was really kicking in. Next, Ibrahim provided a sumptuous throughball that released Amaechi, who got in front of his marker, but hit his shot over the bar.
Argyle kept on pushing. White had a shot blocked from a long throw that was not totally cleared.
The midfielder also hit a long-range shot over the bar in the final minute of the 90.
Then, three minutes into added time, substitute Watts saw his effort blocked by visitors' captain Tilt, who rushed across the box to deny Argyle an equaliser.
Unfortunately, it was not to be for the Greens against a resolute Burton side.
Argyle will be looking to return to winning ways next weekend away to Leyton Orient.
Argyle: 1 Murphy Cooper, 5 Julio Pleguezuelo (2 Mathias Ross, 73), 7 Harvey White, 9 Will Evans (17 Caleb Watts, 59), 11 Ronan Curtis (10 Xavier Amaechi, 70), 14 Oliver Irow, 15 Alex Mitchell, 19 Tyreeq Bakinson (23 Bradley Ibrahim, 70), 27 Bim Pepple, 29 Matty Sorinola (8 Joe Edwards, 59), 45 Wes Harding (capt). Substitutes: 21 James Storer (GK), 3 Jack MacKenzie.
Booked: Evans 56, Curtis 60, Ross 86
Burton Albion: 34 Corey Addai, 3 Jack Armer, 4 Kegs Chauke (41 Sulyman Krubally, 87), 8 Charlie Webster, 12 George Evans, 14 Will Collar, 16 Curtis Tilt (capt), 17 Raphael Borges Rodrigues, 18 Caylan Vickers, 26 Finn Delap, 29 Kain Adom (19 Matthew Dennis, half-time). Substitutes: 27 Kamil Dudek (GK), 20 Jason Sraha, 23 Emeka Adiele, 24 Harvey Araujo, 40 Zac Scutt.
Goals: Armer 70
Booked: Tilt 23, Dennis 65, Krubally (not on pitch) 84
Attendance: 15,372 (159 away)
Referee: Simon Mather
