By Nicholas Rigg
October 18 2005

Paul Sturrock left his former club with smiles all round after Wednesday took a point from their early season relegation rivals. A bizarre own goal from Plymouth man Akos Buzsaky on 24 minutes, but the hosts drew level through a debatable Paul Wotton penalty with ten minutes remaining.

Plymouth 1-1 Wednesday

Date: Saturday 15th October

Venue: Home Park, Plymouth

Paul Sturrock recieved a warm reception on his first return to Home Park in a competative match, and left with a smile on his face following a hard-faught point against Plymouth.

Sturrock kept faith with the team that beat Coventry City two weeks ago, despite Glenn Whelen and Chris Brunt both playing the full 90 minutes for their respective nations in midweek. Graham Coughlan was handed the captaincy instead of Glenn Whelen on his return to Plymouth where he spent four years.

Plymouth boss Tony Pulis brought in Buzsaky to replace Bjarni Gudjonsson in midefield, and Paul Connelly replaced Anthony Barness at right-back. Other than that, it was the same team that gave Pulis his first home win against Stoke City two weeks ago.

The build up to the game, especially in Plymouth, was built up by billboards around the city announcing the return of Paul Sturrock to the south-coast. 'Pulis V Sturrock' failed to live up to the occassion though, as two relatively poor teams scrapped out a draw which helps neither side, though Sturrock will be by far the happier.

Chances were few and far between in the opening stages of the match. Nick Chadwick was put through on goal early on but David Lucas was quick off his line to prevent a shot on goal. At the other end, Chris Brunt struck a powerful free-kick straight in to the arms of Romain Larrieu in the Argyle goal.

The standard of the game in the first half was poor. Passes were going astray, tackles were flying in left right and centre, and neither side could keep hold of the ball. Any latecomers to the match could have mistaken it for a Sunday league game.

It was appropriate then, that the opening goal was one of the most bizarre you will see at a football match, a classic own goal fit for any gaffs DVD. Lee Peacock was through on goal but the angle to shoot was far too tight to attempt. His cross in to the box was nowhere near the head of a Wednesday player, but luckily Buzsaky's attempted clearence resulted in to the ball going in to his own goal.

The goal lifted Wednesday, who could have made it 2-0 just minutes later. Glenn Whelen sent a ball in to the Argyle box for Peacock to chest down but slice his shot wide of the goal.

Arglye were desperate for the points to drew them level - or faced taking Wednesdays spot in the bottom three. Clearly the players knew this, and put pressure on Lucas' goal for the remainder of the half.

Buzsaky, who made his first international appearance for Hungary in midweek, seemed desperate to right his wrong of putting Wednesday ahead. Nick Chadwick crossed the ball to find Buzsaky unmarked at the far post, but he put his shot over the bar.

Frankie Simek was brave enough to block a powerful shot from Tony Capaldi, and Lucas was agile enough to get down low to a Micky Adams effort from a long throw-in.

It didn't look to be Argyle's day though, as a superb 25-yard effort by Buzsaky hit the face of the post and somehow bounced to safety.

Wednesday went in to the break 1-0 up, but had to start the second half without the services of Glenn Whelen. Sturrock said that the Irish under-21 captain may be tired after he played the full 90 minutes for his team in midweek, and he was replaced by Burton O'Brien in midfield.

The second half started much the same as the first had finished - with Argyle pressure on the Wednesday goal. The hosts could count themselves unfortunate not to have equalised when Kouo-Doumbe's effort was blocked by Graeme Lee, only for the follow-up to land at the head of Nick Chadwick who's header somehow hit the bar from just 6-yards.

With the game hanging in the balance, both managers tried to freshen things up. Pulis brought on ex-Wednesday loanee Bojan Djordic and Scott Taylor, while Sturrock brought on Lee Bullen in place of David Graham.

Arglye were still pressurising the Wednesday goal, but the stubborn defence was not budging. Argyle's breakthorugh came when David Norris was in possession of the ball at the edge of the Wednesday box - seemingly going knowhere. Frankie Simek slid in on Norris who seemed to fall to the floor quite easily, and the referee pointed to the spot.

Paul Wotton stepped up to take the penalty for Argyle, but Lee Peacock came running over to pass on some advice to Lucas from Sturrock. The advice didn't work, and Wooton slotted the ball in to the bottom left hand corner to equalise for the hosts.

While Argyle were on the up, Wednesday still looked to expose the hosts on the counter account, and Lee Peacock nearly capitalised on one of these. He created an opening for himself but saw his effort well saved by Larrieu. Chris Eagles also came close with a low shot which was easily saved.

The scrappy affair finished with a point for both sides, although Wednesday must improve over the coming weeks if they are survive in the Championship.

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My Man Of The Match: Frankie Simek

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Plymouth Argyle:

Larrieu, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Brevett (Djordjic 57), Buzsaky (Gudjonsson 80), Wotton, Norris, Capaldi, Evans, Chadwick (Taylor 63).
Subs Not Used: Lasley, McCormick.

Wednesday:

Lucas, Simek, Coughlan, Lee, Hills, Eagles, Whelan (O'Brien 45), Rocastle, Brunt (Wood 84), Peacock, Graham (Bullen 67).
Subs Not Used: Partridge, Corr.

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Paul Sturrock told BBC Sport:

"I've got a lot of disgruntled players in there because of their thoughts on the penalty.''

"I can't say anything about the referee so we'll leave it at that.''

"It wasn't an epic, it wasn't a classic, it was not for the purist but we'll take the point and get back up the road."

Paul Sturrock told SWFC.co.uk:

''This is a difficult place to come and we've got a lot of young players. It was a tussle but they stuck their foot in and their head in and worked very hard.''

''I'm very pleased we've come away with a result. A lot of teams will come here and lose.''

''I'd like to discuss the referee but I can't so I won't. He was right on the spot for the penalty. He thought it was, our boys didn't, and I'm led to believe that some of their players didn't think it was a penalty either.''

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Attendance: 16,534 (1470 Owls)

Referee:  I Williamson (5/10)