Plymouth rescued a 2-2 draw against west country rivals Bristol City in their first game since Wayne Rooney’s departure as Julio Pleguezuelo scored a stoppage-time equaliser.
The Spanish defender acrobatically fired home after Adam Randell’s free-kick dropped off Zak Vyner into the six-yard box.
City twice led through Anis Mehmeti and Jason Knight before being pegged back by Rami Al Hajj, with his first goal for Argyle, and then Pleguezuelo.
First-team coach Kevin Nancekivell replaced Rooney – who left the club by mutual consent on New Year’s Eve – on the touchline as the hosts kicked off 2025 managerless and in incessant rain at Home Park.
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Julio Pleguezuelo was on hand to score as Plymouth Argyle equalised in injury time against Bristol City.
One notable absentee in the home line-up was central defender Lewis Gibson, while injured Argyle skipper Joe Edwards, a former Bristol City player, was assisting Nancekivell from the home dugout.
Max O’Leary made a great one-handed save after 10 minutes to keep out Al Hajj’s 20-yard shot on the run. Scottish striker Ryan Hardie was first to the loose ball but fired over from close range.
Hardie tried a deft back flick to beat O’Leary from Matthew Sorinola’s cross in the 17th minute before the first of two efforts from fit-again Plymouth playmaker Morgan Whittaker.
Plymouth’s Julio Pleguezuelo celebrates scoring their late equaliser against Bristol City in the Championship
Whittaker’s first effort from 20 yards was easily held by O’Leary, while his second curled over the bar from distance.
Al Hajj was again denied by O’Leary when he latched onto a through ball from Randell and let fly from just outside the penalty area.
It was a routine save for O’Leary, who was called into action again to keep out an angled effort from Argyle’s on-loan Leeds midfielder Darko Gyabi.
City took a 32nd-minute lead through Mehmeti after two passes carved open Argyle’s defence. Max Bird’s through ball from the halfway line to Nahki Wells on the edge of the area was passed sideways to Mehmeti, cutting out ‘keeper Conor Hazard and leaving the City striker with an open goal to tap into.
Scott Twine tried his luck from the left but his shot flew just over.
After the break, recalled ‘keeper Hazard made a brilliant stop to keep out Twine’s thumping volley from George Tanner’s cross in the 47th minute.
Argyle levelled after 50 minutes when Whittaker’s deep cross from the right was guided in at the far post between O’Leary and the upright by midfielder Al Hajj.
O’Leary then got enough hand on to Whittaker’s long-range effort to turn the ball onto the bar and over.
A few minutes later, Randell whipped a free-kick from the right across the face of goal as Argyle sensed an upset.
Those thoughts quickly evaporated as Twine cleverly put in the advancing Knight down the right and the Bristol City skipper cleverly lifted the ball over Hazard and into the far corner as he cut inside.
But Pleguezuelo rescued just a second point from their last eight matches in stoppage time.
The managers
Bristol City’s Liam Manning
“We have seen late goals at Plymouth before, they have done it numerous times and it’s no surprise when it happens.
“That is the frustration, it came out of nowhere. We managed the game quite well and controlled it in terms of keeping things in their half, so in the end it’s slightly frustrating.
“It’s a sign of progress for the lads. We weren’t talking about it too often last season, giving up results from winning positions. It shows how close the lads are and the progress is massive individually and collectively.
“The final bit is the hardest bit in terms of getting it over the line.”
Pymouth interim boss Kevin Nancekivell:
“Character helped us through, it was a tough battle because they are a good team. The fans helped us through as well, they were great again and it was brilliant to get another late equaliser at the Devonport End.
“We’re getting to expect that now. I’m just looking after the team with Joe (Edwards). I believe we will be in charge for Stoke.
“Wayne (Rooney) showed a lot of class when he came in to say goodbye to us. It’s been a difficult period but we have a job to do. The bare minimum that anyone at Plymouth Argyle asks for is 100 per cent.”
