Argyle are made to pay for their costly errors as hopes of promotion are hit

PLYMOUTH Argyle suffered just a second Home Park defeat of the League One season as their automatic promotion hopes suffered an Easter Monday setback against midtable Lincoln City.

-  CHRIS ERRINGTON

Plymouth Argyle 0 Lincoln City 2

The Pilgrims went into the match on top of the table but were beaten 2-0 after goals from Olamide Shodipo in the 28th minute and Ben House early in the second period.

Manager Steven Schumacher responded by making all five of his permitted substitutions but, unlike for much of this season, it was to no avail as there was no way back for Argyle.

Their only other home league defeat had also been by a 2-0 scoreline against Port Vale in December and they could have no complaints about the result against Lincoln after a mistake-filled performance.

Sheffield Wednesday returned to the top of League One after a 3-0 home win against Accrington Stanley, a point above the Pilgrims having played one more match than them.

Argyle in second spot are one point clear of third-placed Ipswich Town, whose eight-game winning run came to an end with a 1-1 draw away to Cheltenham Town.

There was a return to the Argyle starting line-up for Danny Mayor against Lincoln after his goal scoring appearance as a second half substitute in the win away to Morecambe.

That was one of three changes made to the team by Schumacher, along with the on-loan duo of Nigel Lonwijk and Jay Matete.

Jordan Houghton and Sam Cosgrove dropped down to the substitutes’ bench and there was no place in the squad for Brendan Galloway after he had put in a good display at Morecambe.

Argyle lined up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Tyreik Wright up front with Ryan Hardie, while Matt Butcher was the holding midfield player behind Matete and Mayor.