Pilgrims can't hold a Cundle to clinical Swans

Plymouth Argyle 1-3 Swansea City

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

PLYMOUTH Argyle could not hold onto a half-time lead as they slipped to a fourth Championship defeat in the last six games by losing 3-1 to Swansea City at Home Park on Saturday.

Swansea stormed back in the second half with goals from Jerry Yates, substitute Ollie Cooper and former Exeter City player Josh Key to make it four consecutive victories for them.

Argyle had taken an 18th-minute lead through midfielder Luke Cundle, who spent last season on loan to Swansea from Wolves, and played some good football during a controlled first-half display but the inform visitors proved too strong for them after the break.

It leaves Pilgrims’ boss Steven Schumacher and his players much to work on during the two-week international break before their next game away to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, October 21.

Midfielder Matt Butcher made his first Championship start for Argyle as one of four changes to the team that lost 2-0 at home to Millwall. His previous five appearances this season had been as a substitute.

Also brought back into the side were Macaulay Gillesphey, Joe Edwards – who resumed the captain’s role – and Cundle. The quartet of Mickel Miller, Finn Azaz, Adam Randell and Kaine Kesler-Hayden all dropped down to the substitutes’ bench.

Butcher was in central midfield alongside Jordan Houghton as Argyle lined up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Edwards and Bali Mumba the two wing-backs.

Former Swansea pair Cundle and Morgan Whittaker played in the ‘number 10’ attacking positions behind striker Ryan Hardie.