REPORT | ARGYLE 2 COVENTRY CITY 2
Argyle 2
Whittaker 55
Miller 68
Coventry City 2
Simms 66
Kitching 90+6
Argyle and Coventry City condensed the scoring action into a frantic 13-minute spell early in the second half at another rammed Home Park, and the Greens came painfully close to emerging as victors from this swift exchange of goals.
There was little between the sides in the opening 45 minutes but it all changed when leading scorer Morgan Whittaker swept the Pilgrims in front after the restart.
Ellis Simms levelled with a scruffy rebound effort on 66 minutes but Argyle immediately piled up the other end and a cross from Mickel Miller took a wicked deflection as it flew into a jubilant home net.
Victory was seconds away when a freak goal, the ball ricocheting off a group of players before creeping over the line, handed Coventry a share of the spoils and a cruel conclusion for the Greens.
Argyle boss Ian Foster made three changes from the weekend defeat at Sunderland, Adam Randell, Matty Sorinola and Lino Sousa coming in for Adam Forshaw, Bali Mumba and Miller.
Coventry came from behind to defeat Millwall on Sunday, Haji Wright scoring both goals for the Sky Blues, although he was only named as a replacement on a dark and drizzly night at Home Park.
Sorinola was the first Pilgrim to brighten the gloom of a soggy Valentine’s night, pinching the ball in midfield to release Whittaker for an inviting cross cleared at a stretch by the Coventry defence.
Whittaker then warmed the hands of Sky Blues’ stopper Bradley Collins, who did well to save low at his near post. Conor Hazard was introduced to the game at the other end with a solid block from Matt Godden’s skidding drive.
A decent start to the game continued with Simms digging out a cross aimed at Jay Dasilva steaming forward from left-back, but Sorinola was alert to the danger. Milan van Ewijk then forced a sprinkle of the best stuff from Hazard, turning a well-placed shot around the post.
The next save from Victor Torp was a lot more comfortable for Hazard but the Sky Blues were looking impressive in possession. Randell broke the loose shackles with a swift counter that saw the ball fed wide for Sousa to cross but Devine was unable to find the right connection to trouble Collins.
The game’s golden chance arrived on 35 minutes and a major reprieve for the Greens, as Godden headed wide with the goal gaping from a Jake Bidwell cross. Ryan Hardie responded with a lovely weaving run but the finish was saved by the legs of Collins.
Whittaker flashed a drive into side-netting to complete the first period and Argyle emerged from the interval full of life, Sousa asking questions with his crossing amid a strong spell of possession.
The game suddenly burst into life, with Devine feeding a pass to Randell, who evaded the Coventry tacklers before a perfectly weight pass inside for the waiting Whittaker to slam a confident finish beyond Collins.
Home Park was rocking as Hardie shaved the post with a fierce drive and the fresh legs of Miller and Mumba replaced Sorinola and Sousa. The new men barely had time to find their rhythm before the Sky Blues levelled, Simms forcing the ball over the line after his initial effort had been saved by Hazard.
Two minutes later, Argyle restored their lead and a reward for Miller, who has been excellent in recent weeks. It all came from a rapid counter and Miller whipped over a cross that deflected off Bobby Thomas and into the net.
The Pilgrims freshened the ranks with the introduction of Julio Pleguezuelo and Ben Waine for Ashley Phillips and Hardie, as Argyle arrived at the closing stages with Lewis Gibson jabbing wide a loose ball from a free-kick.
Thomas headed wide from a corner, as Coventry tried turning the screw. Wright had entered the fray and he tested the pace of Mumba with a quick surge, a test passed with literally flying colours.
Jordan Houghton replaced Whittaker for six minutes of stoppage time, which, of course, were full of tension and nerves. The nightmare scenario then arrived as a free-kick to the near post was hacked clear by Miller but the ball agonisingly smacked into the leg of Coventry's Liam Kitching for a last-gasp equalising goal.
A desperate way to end the night.
Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard; 3 Lino Sousa (14 Mickel Miller 60), 9 Ryan Hardie (23 Ben Waine 77), 10 Morgan Whittaker (4 Jordan Houghton 89), 16 Alfie Devine, 17 Lewis Gibson, 18 Darko Gyabi, 20 Adam Randell, 22 Brendan Galloway, 26 Ashley Phillips (5 Julio Pleguezuelo 77), 29 Matty Sorinola (2 Bali Mumba 60). Substitutes (not used): 25 Callum Burton (gk), 6 Dan Scarr, 8 Joe Edwards, 35 Freddie Issaka.
Booked: Randell 18
Coventry City: 40 Brad Collins; 3 Jay Dasilva, 4 Bobby Thomas, 9 Ellis Simms, 15 Liam Kitching, 21 Jake Bidwell (11 Haji Wright 62), 22 Joel Latibeaudiere (cap) (28 Josh Eccles 77), 24 Matt Godden (7 Tatsuhiro Sakamoto 62), 27 Milan Van Ewijk, 29 Victor Torp, 45 Kasey Palmer. Substitutes (not used): 13 Ben Wilson (gk), 2 Luis Binks, 6 Liam Kelly, 30 Fabio Tavares, 41 Dermi Lusala, 54 Kai Andrews.
Booked: Simms 63, Latibeaudiere 75, Thomas 85
Referee: Keith Stroud
Attendance: 16,799 (1,708 away)