Joe McConnell
Manager Wayne Rooney picked up his first Sky Bet Championship point as Plymouth manager as the Devon side drew 1-1 with Hull at Home Park.
Visiting captain Lewie Coyle scored a stunning 63rd-minute equaliser after Ibrahim Cissoko had given Argyle the lead in the 52nd minute in front of 16,306 at Home Park.
Dutch Under-21 international on loan at Argyle, Cissoko, was the first to react when Morgan Whittaker’s shot was blocked in the penalty area, masterfully kicking the ball past a pack of players, including Tigers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur.
Argyle’s lead was short-lived, as Hull captain Coyle capped a brilliant attacking move with a brilliant finish on the post, following Miller’s pass across the edge of the area.
Plymouth got off to a great start in their first home Championship game, with midfield ace Whittaker forcing Pandur into a save after eight minutes.
This triggered a wave of attacks at home with Cissoko, on loan from French club Toulouse, shooting from 20 metres and, although his shot was blocked, his fellow midfielder Adam Forshaw was the first to react and forced Pandur into another save.
Hull responded through Marvin Mehlem, forcing Argyle goalkeeper Conor Hazard to keep out the ball with his outstretched leg from close range in the 11th minute.
Argyle continued to press with captain Joe Edwards, scorer of last season’s decisive goal that ensured Plymouth retained their champions status, firing wide from 20 yards in the 13th minute.
City’s Abdulkadir Omur’s 34th-minute shot from just inside the penalty area looked destined for goal, with Hazard caught on the counter-attack, had it not been for a brilliant diving save from Greens centre-back Brendan Galloway.
Hull ended the half in front, despite Omur’s 25-metre free-kick in the 43rd minute going wide.
Ryan Hardie came close to scoring for Argyle early in the second half with a low, angled shot from the right that went past a diving Pandur but flew inches wide of the far post in the 50th minute.
Hull responded well once again with Liam Millar’s impressive strike just over the bar in the 51st minute.
Substitute Freddie Issaka, who came on in the 64th minute, forced Pandur into a remarkable save after cutting into the area from the left and aiming for the far corner with 20 minutes remaining.
A minute later the goalkeeper was called into action again when Whittaker unleashed a powerful, diving shot from 25 metres.
Despite their efforts, Argyle (with Rooney fielding all five substitutes) were unable to overcome the Tigers’ resolute defence.
Another Whittaker effort was blocked, as Hull finished the game on the attack, with two close-range shots blocked in succession by a combination of Galloway and substitute Jordan Houghton, returning from injury.
The managers
Plymouth’s Wayne Rooney:
Next up…
Tim Walter from Hull:
Next up…
