Ahead of Plymouth Argyle's clash with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, which will be the first time that they have faced other in over a decade, we will take a look back at a memorable encounter between the two sides from September 2010.
It is
nearly 11 years ago to this day that Plymouth Argyle faced Sheffield Wednesday
in League One shortly after the two sides had just been relegated from the
Championship.
In a highly entertaining game, the Pilgrims came out as 3-2 winners despite
being reduced to ten men, following Bondz N'gala's dismissal late in the first
half. It was arguably their finest performance under the ill-fated tenure of
Peter Reid, which saw Argyle experience a second successive relegation as they
were deducted ten points for going into Administration in February 2011.
Argyle skipper Carl Fletcher marked his return from injury with the opening goal of the afternoon in the 19th minute with a low, 25-yard effort.
James O’Connor then equalised for the Owls on 38 minutes before Argyle were reduced to ten men following the dismissal of right back Bondz N’gala on the stroke of half-time for a challenge on Neil Mellor.
However, they restored their advantage in the first minute of the second half through a strike from the recalled Bradley Wright-Phillips.
Wednesday then levelled on 75 minutes with a stunning strike from substitute Tommy Miller before Craig Noone grabbed the winner for Argyle for four minutes later.
The first chance of the game fell to Argyle on four minutes when defender Krisztian Timar blasted a Craig Noone corner over the bar from 12-yards.
Wednesday had Nicky Weaver to thank for keeping the score level when he denied recalled Pilgrims striker Bradley Wright-Phillips twice in the space of two minutes.
Argyle’s early pressure paid off when they took the lead in the 19th minute when Wright-Phillips teed up skipper Fletcher who drilled a fine, low 25-yard effort, which went in off the inside of the right hand post, past Weaver.
Wednesday drew level on 38 minutes when O’Connor nodded home a cross from Coke past Argyle keeper Romain Larrieu.
The Pilgrims were then reduced on ten men on the stroke of half-time when referee Andy Penn dismissed N’gala for a professional foul on Mellor.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Argyle made a dream start to the second half when Wright-Phillips took advantage of a lapse in concentration in the Wednesday back line to head home a Noone cross to restore the Pilgrims lead.
Wednesday equalised in stunning fashion on 75 minutes when substitute Miller curled a 30-yard effort past Larrieu.
However, Argyle soon regained their advantage in the 79th minute when Noone leapt highest in the Argyle penalty area to connect with a cross from Jim Paterson and placed his header past Weaver as the Pilgrims clinched their first home win in front of their own fans since March 2010.
Plymouth:(4-4-2) Larrieu, N’gala, Johnson, Timar, Bhasera, Noone (Stephens 89), Fletcher, Arnason, Paterson, Wright-Phillips (MacLean 75), Patterson (Seip 46)
Subs not used: Mason, Peterlin, Chenoweth, Parrett
Sheff Wed: (4-4-2) Weaver, Buxton, Purse, Beevers, Spurr (Jones 83), Sedgwick (Miller 62), O’Connor, Potter (Morrison 62), Coke, Mellor, Tudgay
Subs not used: Heffernan, Teale, Jameson, Otsemobor
Attendance: 7,916
