Doncaster Rovers 1 Plymouth Argyle 1

ARGYLE stretched their unbeaten run to eight game with a battling point at Doncaster that defied all expectations.

Not that the Pilgrims were not expected to get anything; more that the style in which they played, getting better the longer the game went on, was totally unlike the approach Derek Adams had previous taken against Rovers.

Doncaster were on top in the first half, but other than one John Marquis miss, created little more than Alfie Beestin's goal for all their possession.

In the second half, it was all Argyle, and Ryan Edwards's 74th minute volley was no more than the Pilgrims deserved.

In fact, Argyle looked for all the world like they would win the match, too, but a combination of off-target shots and good goalkeeping kept them at bay.

The pre-match chat, from an Argyle perspective, focused mainly on the sizable gap left in Argyle's midfield by the departure of Toumani Diagouraga. Derek Adams choice of replacement was Jamie Ness, who had not played since October 7 since suffering injury upon knock followed by setback.

Ness was set for an important role. Darren Ferguson's Doncaster's use of a diamond-shaped midfield has worked well for them through last season and into this, so Ness, along with midfield chums Antoni Sarcevic and David Fox, were in for a busy day.

Last season, when both teams were vying for promotion from Sky Bet League Two, this fixture featured rather a lot of Doncaster pressure, and chances, but only one goal, from Argyle's Sonny Bradley.

The opening exchanges suggested that Doncaster pressure may well be the order of the day, once again, but despite the home side's territorial dominance over the first quarter of an hour, Pilgrims goalkeeper Remi Matthews was seldom called upon to perform more than he would be expected to in the pre-match kick-in.

Thus, Argyle seemed to have seen off Donny's opening gambits, and began to play their way into the game. The inclusion of Ness, an all-action midfielder, as opposed to the defensive minded Yann Songo'o, and the continued inclusion of both Graham Carey and Ruben Lameiras meant Argyle had plenty of options further forward, and so some tidy pockets of play led to Argyle creating half-chances - Ness's low cross cut out before Taylor could finish probably the best of them - and corners, and starting to swing the pendulum in their favour.

Cue Argyle presenting Doncaster with the best chance of the game.

Argyle had been attacking down their right flank, and when Ryan Edwards offered Oscar Threlkeld an option from a throw-in, it seemed the Liverpudlian centre-back's right foot would ping a ball into enemy territory. Instead, Ryan slightly miscontroled, which led to a change of plan, which in turn led to an underhit ball to defensive partner Sonny Bradley.

Bradley hesitated and was beaten to the ball by Rovers forward John Marquis, just inside the Argyle half. Marquis made for goal, and bore down on Matthews, but as he tried to slip the ball beyond the Argyle 'keeper, Matthews broadened his body enough to push the ball away. By the time the ball was back into the Argyle box copious citrus shirts had recovered to prevent any further danger.

This rocked Argyle for a couple of minutes, but they recovered well, and again began to put together stretches of attacking play perhaps unexpected of them. Lameiras had Argyle's best chance of the half, popping up in the Doncaster area in space, but slicing wide, as the ball bounced a little too high for him than would have been ideal.

Doncaster took the lead on 37 minutes in the first attack they had made which actually cut Argyle open. A crossfield ball towards Marquis was headed away by Edwards, but picked up by Marquis before the ball went out of play. Edwards naturally had to cover Marquis's move, but it left a gap in the centre. Doncaster capitalised, with Beestin bursting into the space, and being found by Tommy Rowe. Beestin took the shot early, catching out Matthews, and Doncaster were in front.

Read the full match report here.