Accrington Stanley 0-2 Plymouth Argyle
Matt Butcher’s deflected strike and a late Conor Grant goal propelled Plymouth Argyle to the top of League One with a win over 10-man Accrington Stanley.
Plymouth opened the scoring in the 14th minute when former Stanley midfielder Butcher’s long-range shot hit the back of defender Baba Fernandes and slithered into the net, goalkeeper Toby Savin.
The Pilgrims could have scored the second shortly after from a Jordan Houghton free-kick, but Savin dove to deny it.
Stanley’s best chance of the first half came when goalkeeper Callum Burton saved a Korede Adedoyin strike.
Things went from bad to worse for Accrington in the 51st minute when Mo Sangare was sent off for two yellow cards – the sixth dismissal of the season in League One.
However, the home side came close to equalizing after 65 minutes when Burton superbly pushed out a 40-yard free-kick from Tommy Leigh.
Plymouth sealed it when Danny Mayor fed substitute Grant in the 78th minute and shot the ball deep into the far corner of the net.
Ryan Hardie hit both posts for Plymouth who are on pole afterwards Sheffield Wednesday lost at Barnsley, in the closing minutes as they inflicted a third loss in a row on Stanley.
Match report by PA Media.
lineups
Accrington
formation 3-5-2
- 40Savin
- 50Fernandes
- 12nottinghamReplaced bypicklesat 90+1′protocol
- 15sangareBooked at 51 minutes
- 2Clear
- 11McConville38 minutes booked
- 8thleigh
- 22MartinBooked at 42 minutes
- 14Langelo90 minutes booked
- 19AdedoyinReplaced bywhalleyat 85′protocol
- 20PressleyReplaced byLionat 85′protocol
Substitute
- 7whalley
- 9Lion
- 17nolan
- 18Butler Oyedeji
- 25fad
- 30Isherwood
- 43pickles
Plymouth
formation 3-4-2-1
- 25Burton
- 5Wilson
- 2BoltonReplaced byfoolat 29′protocol
- 3Gillesphey
- 24EarlyReplaced byWrightat 64′protocol
- 4HoughtonReplaced byMateat 64′protocol
- 7Butcher
- 17mummyReplaced byGrantat 74′protocol
- 18AzazReplaced byEnnisat 74′protocol
- 10mayor
- 9Hartie
Substitute
- 6fool
- 11Ennis
- 15Grant
- 26Wright
- 28Mate
- 29Wright
- 32parks
- Referee:
- Jacob Bell
- Participation:
- 2,489
live text
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Game ends, Accrington Stanley 0, Plymouth Argyle 2.
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Second Half ends, Accrington Stanley 0, Plymouth Argyle 2.
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attempt failed. Tommy Leigh (Accrington Stanley) header from the center of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Sean McConville with a cross from a corner.
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Rosaire Longelo (Accrington Stanley) is shown a yellow card.
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Corner, Accrington Stanley. Cashed in by Dan Scarr.
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Foul by James Wilson (Plymouth Argyle).
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Shaun Whalley (Accrington Stanley) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, Accrington Stanley. Aaron Pickles replaces Michael Nottingham.
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Offside Accrington Stanley. Shaun Whalley tries a through ball, but Matt Lowe is caught offside.
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Ryan Hardie (Plymouth Argyle) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the left side of the box.
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Foul by James Wilson (Plymouth Argyle).
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Matt Lowe (Accrington Stanley) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Dan Scarr (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Matt Lowe (Accrington Stanley).
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Foul by Matt Butcher (Plymouth Argyle).
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Matt Lowe (Accrington Stanley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Ryan Hardie (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Tommy Leigh (Accrington Stanley).
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attempt saved. Sean McConville (Accrington Stanley) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Substitution, Accrington Stanley. Shaun Whalley replaces Korede Adedoyin.