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Plymouth 2 Pompey 2: Rose blooms, then Blues wilt

It was another of those days when Pompey's fans ended up not knowing whether to laugh or cry, or do both at the same time.

Most would have thought before the game a point was a decent run against a Plymouth side on a great run of form - and they certainly would have settled for a draw when 1-0 down for much of the first half.

But goals by Kyle Bennett and, late on, by Danny Rose seemed to have given Pompey a priceless second away win in eight days - only for last season's late goal curse to come back and haunt Paul Cook's men as Plymouth levelled in the 90th minute to claim a point.

With Tom Davies replacing the injured Matt Clarke alongside Christian Burgess, Pompey started on the attack and gave Argyle a couple of early scares. But how often has that happened only for Pompey to fall behind?

It did happen here as a Graham Carey free kick was met by the head of Yann Songo'o, with perhaps a few question marks over the Pompey marking and general defending of set-pieces.

Conor Chaplin was controversially booked for diving when Pompey felt the challenge was worthy of a penalty, but the Blues were battling well and deserved the equaliser they got five minutes before half-time as Chaplin beat his man and Bennett converted from his unselfish set-up.

Pompey probably edged the second half with Carl Baker, Gary Roberts and Bennett all testing the home keeper, Luke McCormick, but Plymouth had their moments and Carey struck David Forde's bar midway through the half.

On 87 minutes Pompey must have thought they had won it through a tremendous goal by Rose - volleying in from 25 yards after sub Curtis Main had a shot beaten away. But Plymouth weren't to be beaten and two minutes later as a quick move ended with a simple finish for Connor Smith.

The draw leaves Pompey eight points behind Plymouth and sitting fifth in the table on 21 points.

Cook told the Pompey website: 'It was a very entertaining game between two sides who were going at it. Apart from the disappointment of conceding another last-gasp goal at Plymouth, I thought we were comfortably the better team. We deserved the three points, but we didn’t get them and good luck to our opponents. They’ve set the pace for a reason — they’re a very good group.'

Next up it's Notts County at home next Saturday.

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