Five talking points after scoring first but losing at Sunderland

PLYMOUTH Argyle were in a position where a second successive away Championship win was a distinct possibility when they took a 1-0 lead into the interval of their away game against Sunderland on Saturday.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

A superbly-taken goal from striker Ryan Hardie had the Pilgrims ahead on Wearside in the 39th minute and there were boos from the home supporters as Sunderland's players left the pitch for half-time. Argyle had largely been in control of the game up until that point and limited the attacking threat of the Black Cats.

However, Argyle's biggest first-half failing of conceding a number of free-kicks in and around their penalty area continued into the second period and led to Sunderland's 52nd-minute equaliser from Pierre Ekwah - more on that shortly.

Further goals followed from Jack Clarke and Jobe Bellingham by the 67th minute and Argyle's hopes of building on their 1-0 win away to Swansea City in south Wales the previous Saturday were over. Plymouth Live's Argyle reporter Chris Errington joined the travelling Green Army in making the 800-mile round trip to Sunderland and back and he has picked out five talking points following the Championship clash:

DREADFUL EQUALISER TO CONCEDE

Sunderland's players were out early for the start of the second half after what must have been some strong words from their boss Michael Beale in the dressing room.

Argyle would have expected to come under early pressure after the restart but had they retained their slender lead for 10-15 minutes the Sunderland fans would have become frustrated and expressed that towards their team.

Instead, they equalised from the latest in a series of free-kicks close to the Argyle penalty area after Darko Gyabi had fouled Patrick Roberts. It was a dreadful goal for the Pilgrims to concede, first because they must have realised they could not keep giving away free-kicks in those sort of positions, but also because the defensive wall might as well not have been there.