Plymouth Argyle kept up their fight for Championship survival by bouncing back from their crushing late 2-1 defeat at Middlesbrough on Good Friday with a fine 3-1 Easter Monday victory over play-off chasing Coventry City at Home Park. The Pilgrims are still bottom of the table, though, with only two matches left to play this season, because of wins for relegation rivals Hull City, Derby County, and Luton Town, while Cardiff City drew. So it looks like Argyle will need to win their final two fixtures, which are away to Preston North End on Saturday and then at home to Leeds United on May 3, to stand any chance of staying up.
The Pilgrims opened the scoring against Coventry in the 40th minute when Mustapha Bundu fired home after a low cut-back from Adam Randell. Bundu then set up Ryan Hardie to make it 2-0 soon afterwards before Haji Wright replied for the Sky Blues just before the break. It was crucial for Argyle to get the next goal and they got it in the 65th minute when Victor Palsson, who was up for a corner, nodded the ball towards Bundu, who put it in the net at the second attempt after goalkeeper Brad Collins had blocked his first try.
Mustapha Bundu's excellent recent form continued as he scored two and set up another in Argyle's key win. The victory keeps the Pilgrims three points from safety and was vital after relegation rivals Luton Town and Derby County won and Cardiff City drew. Argyle sent their supporters into raptures after two goals in three minutes towards the end of the first half as Bundu put them in front before the Sierra Leone forward set up top scorer Ryan Hardie.
The Home Park crowd had still not calmed down when Coventry pulled a goal back as Haji Wright reacted quickest after Ellis Simms' header had been saved, meaning Frank Lampard's side went into the break a goal behind. But Bundu allayed any worries as he headed in Argyle's third from close range after his initial effort had been saved.
Coventry City occupy the final play-off spot in sixth place, despite the loss, three points clear of seventh-placed Middlesbrough who lost at Sheffield Wednesday. Coventry dominated the early stages – they had more than 85% of the ball in the opening 10 minutes – with Matt Grimes and the returning Jamie Allen prominent. Joel Latibeaudiere struck the side netting from a 12th-minute corner for the Sky Blues but Argyle responded when Bundu cut in and curled a right-footed effort just wide of the post.
Argyle were happy to surrender possession and play on the break, especially through Bundu and Bali Mumba down the left – the latter scooping an effort just over the bar after half an hour. The game turned in five minutes at the end of the half as Bundu squeezed in a shot at the near post after Adam Randell had pulled the ball back from the byline following a recycled corner.
Three minutes later, Bundu dispossessed Latibeaudiere inside the Argyle half and raced into the penalty area, where he squared the ball to Hardie and the Scot fired in his 12th goal of the season. But moments later, Coventry hit back as Wright was free at the back post to net and reduce the deficit at the interval.
The second half was a more even affair until Bundu got his second – a long throw was only half-cleared before Palsson's header back in found Bundu, who reacted quickest after his initial effort had been stopped by Collins. The Sky Blues almost pulled a goal back immediately when Wright headed Liam Kitching's cross into the hands of Conor Hazard from close range, while at the other end, Collins did well to twice thwart Hardie as he looked for his second goal.
The visitors pressed forward late on, but Argyle, spurred on by a passionate home crowd, defended superbly to ensure a three-game unbeaten run for Frank Lampard's side came to an end. Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic told BBC Sport: "I'm very proud to deliver this kind of performance, just two days after Middlesbrough. To step on the field today and perform like the lads performed, I'm very proud – we knew the calibre of the opponent they're flying with 15 wins from 20 games. We had a fantastic match plan, great discipline and the heart and desire to execute it. We did our job today and I think we did it in an excellent way. We want to win the next one because the last home game against Leeds, we have a final, and that's what we're aiming for."
Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard told BBC Sport: "This was a game that was completely dominated by the types of goals that they score against you. We were going to have a lot of the ball and it was mistakes that led to transitions and set pieces. If you are short on those on the day against a team that are a team of giants, big boys, you know what's coming. Every goal kick, every throw-in, every set piece is coming in - and you have to deal with that and you have to be more dynamic to break the low block, and we were not at that level today. The third goal comes along and makes it even more difficult; they have something more to protect."
Despite the loss, Coventry City remains in a strong position for the play-offs, but the defeat will certainly raise questions about their ability to maintain form as the season draws to a close. The Sky Blues had entered the match with high hopes after a convincing victory over West Bromwich Albion just days earlier, but they were unable to replicate that form against a determined Argyle side.
As the season nears its conclusion, Plymouth Argyle's fight for survival remains intense, with their next challenge against Preston North End looming. Fans will be hoping for another strong performance as the Pilgrims strive to escape the relegation zone and secure their place in the Championship for another season.
