Pilgrims denied win as sky Blues strike late to earn draw

PLYMOUTH Argyle had two Championship points slip from their grasp as they conceded a Coventry City equaliser in the sixth and final minute of added time in a 2-2 draw at rainswept Home Park.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

It was a result which extended the Pilgrims' unbeaten home league run to nine games but that will not have been any consolation to them after Sky Blues' defender Liam Kitching scored so late on.

Morgan Whittaker had put Argyle into a 56th-minute lead with his 18th goal of the season but Ellis Simms equalised for City soon afterwards.

The Pilgrims regained their advantage when Mickel Miller's angled shot deflected into the net off Coventry defender Bobby Thomas in the 68th minute and Ian Foster's side seemed poised to clinch an important win until the cruel, dramatic late twist.

Lino Sousa made his full debut for Argyle against the Sky Blues as one of three changes to the starting lineup from the 3-1 defeat away to Sunderland.

The 19-year-old loan signing from Aston Villa, who had previously played twice as a substitute for the Pilgrims, was at left wing-back in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Also coming into the side were Matty Sorinola and Adam Randell, as Miller and Bali Mumba dropped down to the substitutes' bench and Adam Forhaw was ruled out by the knee injury he suffered at Sunderland.

Returning to the Argyle squad on the bench was Jordan Houghton, who had missed the previous four matches due to an ankle problem.

On a very misty, wet evening, the Pilgrims were again captained by Whittaker as they played their fourth game in only 12 days. Coventry had won six and drawn two of their previous nine league games so arrived at Home Park in very good form but it was Argyle who started the better.

Whittaker saw a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges and put in a dangerous low cross from the right which was scrambled clear by the Sky Blues.