Pilgrims fight back for a draw in Muslic's first match at the helm

RAMI Al Hajj scored a second half equaliser for bottom-of-the-table Plymouth Argyle as they drew 1-1 with Oxford United at Home Park in their first match under new head coach Miron Muslic.

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON [e-mail] @chriserrington1

While the Pilgrims showed character to come from behind they did not play particularly well throughout, apart from a spell in the first half, and given their worrying league position this was a game which they needed to win.

They could even have lost it in second half stoppage time but goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw made two excellent saves from U's substitute Siriki Dembele to prevent his side suffering a damaging defeat.

Argyle are unbeaten in four games now, which is one positive for them to take, but they are going to have to start picking up maximum points from matches - and soon - to stand any chance of staying up.

Oxford had taken the lead in the 44th minute with a Will Vaulks thunderbolt but Al Hajj put the home side level in the 64th minute when he headed home a cross from Tymoteusz Puchacz.

Argyle took on Oxford without Conor Hazard, who had kept clean sheets in the previous two games, the 0-0 Championship draw at Stoke City and the FA Cup upset of Brentford, but was ruled out by injury..

That meant a return between the posts for Grimshaw, who had last played for the Pilgrims in the 4-0 Boxing Day defeat away to Coventry City.

With the announcement shortly before kick-off that experienced third choice keeper Marko Marosi had left the club, 20-year-old Zak Baker was the goalkeeping cover for Grimshaw on the bench.

Grimshaw for Hazard was one of four changes to the team from the win against Brentford. There was a first start for Poland international left-back Tymoteusz Puchacz after he made his debut as a substitute late in the FA Cup tie.

Also coming into the side were Darko Gyabi and Al Hajj, with Callum Wright, Matty Sorinola and Caleb Roberts dropping down to the bench.

With Puchacz at left-back that meant Bali Mumba moved across to right wing-back, and renewed his partnership on that side of the pitch with Morgan Whittaker, who has been the subject of a bid from Championship rivals Burnley.