Schumacher frustrated after loss to old rivals

PLYMOUTH Argyle manager Steven Schumacher was left frustrated by what could have been as the Pilgrims were beaten 3-2 at Ipswich Town on Saturday.

- DANIEL CLARK

The Pilgrims took an early lead, and for large periods were the better side, but luck was against them at Portman Road.

Injuries, an unlucky own goal, and a controversial refereeing decision all contrived to go against the Greens as the side who Argyle beat to the League One title last season continued their flying start to the Championship campaign.

Kieran McKenna’s men are now unbeaten in 11 as they stay second in the table, and already have a nine point gap, and a game in hand, over the chasing pack.

Defeat for Argyle saw them drop down to 19 th in the Championship table. But there were no complaints about the performance and on another day, Schumacher’s side would have been returning with at least one, if not all three points.

Morgan Whittaker’s stunning strike had given them a seventh minute lead, before controversy just before half-time. Mustapha Bundu clean through on goal, appeared to be brought down by George Edmundson, only for referee Gavin Ward to wave away the appeals.

Moments later, Ipswich levelled, when Bali Mumba unluckily diverted a corner past Argyle keeper Michael Cooper to make it 1-1 at the break. Town went ahead when George Hirst calmly finished after an error by Dan Scarr.

Marcus Harness made it 3-1, when Argyle were down to ten men after Bundu went off injured after all three substitution windows had been made. Skipper Joe Edwards converted a Mumba cutback in stoppage time to set up a nervy finish, but Ipswich held on for victory.