Whittaker earns Argyle point in thriller

MORGAN Whittaker’s seventh goal of the season helped Plymouth Argyle fight back for a 3-3 draw with Middlesbrough in a pulsating game of Championship football at a rain saturated Home Park.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

Whittaker earned a point for the Pilgrims when he curled a 77th-minute free-kick into the penalty area from out wide and the ball ended up in the far corner of the net after no one got a touch to it in the congested goalmouth.

Middlesbrough’s 20-year-old striker Josh Coburn, who came close to signing for Argyle in a loan deal in the summer, showed why the Pilgrims were so keen to secure his services, scoring twice in a thrilling match.

His first goal came in the 23rd minute with a close-range finish but Steven Schumacher’s Pilgrims hit back to lead 2-1 at half-time after goals from Bali Mumba and Finn Azaz.

Argyle would have expected a response from Middlesbrough in the second period and they got one as the visitors stormed back to go 3-2 up through Coburn and Sam Greenwood by the 64th minute.

Middlesbrough were on top and seemed set to pick up maximum points but Argyle managed to stay in the game and were rewarded for their resilience when Whittaker scored to level it all three apiece.

New Zealand international Ben Waine made just his third league start for the Pilgrims as he replaced Ryan Hardie in the starting line-up.

Hardie and Mustapha Bundu both suffered hamstring injuries in the 3-2 defeat at Ipswich Town and missed out on the game against Middlesbrough. One other change saw Jordan Houghton return to the Pilgrims’ side in central midfield, with Adam Randell dropping down to the substitutes’ bench.

Houghton captained Argyle with Joe Edwards named among the substitutes, and returning to the matchday squad after a knee ligament injury was Callum Wright. Also on the bench was 17-year-old Freddie Issaka.