Damien Johnson scored a late equaliser against high-flying Swansea to earn Plymouth a valuable point in their battle against the drop.
Johnson scores late equaliser after Pratley opener
Damien Johnson scored a late equaliser against high-flying Swansea to earn Plymouth a valuable point in their battle against the drop.
Darren Pratley had put the visitors ahead a minute after the interval before Johnson netted the equaliser - his first goal in almost three years - with three minutes to go.
The goal came after Argyle were awarded a penalty when Andrea Orlandi was adjudged to have handled in the area.
Jamie Mackie stepped up to take the spot-kick which Dorus De Vries saved but referee Keith Hill felt the keeper had moved too far off his line and ordered the kick to be re-taken.
Johnson took responsibility this time, and although De Vries saved this penalty as well, the midfielder knocked in the rebound.
The result leaves second-from-bottom Pilgrims five points from safety, while the Swans remain in fourth place.
Buoyed
The home side went into the game buoyed by a 3-1 win at Barnsley last time out, while Paulo Souza's team were looking to preserve a nine-game unbeaten run in the league.
The visitors, who made five changes from the side which drew with Newcastle at the weekend, had the first chance of the night in the fourth minute, Pratley firing a shot straight at Argyle goalkeeper David Stockdale from close in.
Plymouth responded with Rory Fallon sending a weak header into the arms of De Vries and Luke Summerfield blazing over from distance.
But it was the high-flying Swans who were dominating the early stages as Gorka Pintado brought a decent save from Stockdale with a 12-yard drive.
Johnson's ambitious shot from 30 yards was gathered by De Vries, while Orlandi forced another impressive stop from Stockdale after good work from Pratley as the chances continued to flow.
It was the home side who were on top as half-time approached, with Karl Duguid letting fly from 35 yards and Johnson firing over from the edge of the box.
Second period
But Swansea snatched the lead within seconds of the restart. Pratley looked suspiciously offside when Angel Rangel sent him clear, but he kept his cool to slot the ball home and net his sixth goal of the season.
It was all the visitors as Pratley's 18-yard attempt was parried away by Stockdale and a Thomas Butler strike was well-held by the keeper.
Fallon left the action to be replaced by Kenny Cooper on the hour as Plymouth looked to get back into the game.
But it was Swansea who continued to create the better chances, Pratley again breaking through, only to fire straight at Stockdale.
Argyle defender Kari Arnason saw a shot blocked in the box before the late drama unfolded and Johnson was in the right place to tap in the rebound from his spot-kick.
Swansea then almost snatched it at the death, but Pintado's drive from the edge of the area fizzed inches wide.
