CHAMPIONSHIP Plymouth Argyle 3 Preston North End 3

Plymouth Argyle staged a stirring second half fightback from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Preston North End at Home Park.

North End led through goals by Sam Greenwood, Mads Frokjaer-Jensen and Brad Potts on 48 minutes before Freddie Issaka, Andre Gray and Morgan Whittaker scored to restore parity.

On loan Leeds striker Greenwood reacted first to fire North End ahead on 16 minutes.

He swooped to first-time home, off central defender Kornel Szucs, as Argyle keeper Dan Grimshaw could only palm out Kaine Kesler-Hayden’s thumping angled strike from the right, after the on-loan Aston Villa winger beat two defenders.

Midfielder Adam Randell was caught on the ball midway in his own half in the 21st minute by North End striker Emil Riis Jakobsen and Greenwood was quick to respond, latching on to a through ball to flash a shot just wide of goal.

Danish striker Jakobsen came close to making in 2-0 in the 27th minute but his soaring shot from the angle of the box flew just over after being put in on goal by Robbie Brady.

It was Brady’s last meaningful involvement as he limped off in the 30th minute, replaced by Brad Potts.

Preston continued to press and Jakobsen beat marker Victor Palsson with clever footwork before forcing Grimshaw into a near-post save on the left on 33 minutes.

Playmaker Whittaker cut inside from the right to try his luck with a characteristic left foot shot on 38 minutes but his effort was blocked.

When Randell was again caught on the ball, on the halfway line, North End took full advantage to move the ball quickly and score a second goal in the third and final minute of first half stoppage time.

Jakobsen threaded the ball through to Mads Frokjaer-Jensen who swept the ball home past Grimshaw.

North End surged further ahead in the 48th minute when former Argyle loan signing Kesler-Hayden put substitute Potts through to beat Joe Edwards and loft the ball over Grimshaw.

It could have been four but for Grimshaw saving from Greenwood on 53 minutes after scorer Potts’ pass released the striker.

Plymouth pulled a goal back from Randell’s thumping 54th minute free kick from 20 yards, which North End keeper Freddie Woodman could only parry into the path of Issaka, who first-timed home.

On 82 minutes Argyle pulled another goal back when substitute Gray headed home a brilliant deep cross from the left by Bali Mumba at the far post, back across keeper Woodman.

In the first of six minutes of stoppage time Argyle sub Darko Gyabi – on loan from Leeds - headed just over the bar from Kornel Szucz deep cross.

Whittaker levelled in the second minute of stoppage time, cleverly hammering home a cut back ball from sub Mustapha Bundu.

Woodman made a sensational rising, diving save in the fifth minute of stoppage time to keep out Gray’s goal-bound shot to prevent Argyle from completing a winning comeback. 

SWSN Star Dan Grimshaw

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