A Paul Wotton goal helped Plymouth Argyle beat promotion-chasing Shrewsbury Town and move out of the League Two relegation places.

Wotton put Argyle in front with a 30-yard strike from a free-kick, which was fumbled over the line by Shrews keeper Chris Neal.

Argyle substitute Alex MacDonald went close to doubling their lead when his shot from 25 yards hit a post.

Marvin Morgan almost levelled late on but he flicked onto the crossbar.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Plymouth Argyle manager Carl Fletcher told BBC Radio Devon:

"We could've been out of sight, we created enough chances to win a couple of games.

"We're getting the opportunities to score and on any other day we could've had three or four.

"I think Shrewsbury are one of the best teams in the division. We had to be on it and the lads did really well.

"A clean sheet is a clean sheet for the whole team but [goalkeeper] Jake Cole is the last line of defence and he did brilliantly today."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Plymouth

  • 23 Cole
  • 02 Berry
  • 05 Purse
  • 14 Bhasera
  • 22 Blanchard
  • 03 Williams
  • 08 Walton
  • 19 Wotton (Hourihane - 86' )
  • 21 Lennox
  • 11 Feeney (MacDonald - 71' Booked )
  • 29 Chadwick Booked (Tsoumou - 53' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Larrieu
  • 20 Hourihane
  • 09 Tsoumou
  • 31 Hemmings
  • 32 MacDonald

Shrewsbury

  • 01 Neal
  • 02 Grandison
  • 03 Jacobson (Wroe - 62' )
  • 05 Sharps
  • 21 McLaughlin Booked
  • 07 Wright
  • 14 Richards
  • 19 McAllister
  • 23 Taylor (Gornell - 76' )
  • 09 Collins
  • 10 Morgan

Substitutes

  • 25 Smith
  • 06 Cansdell-Sherriff
  • 08 Wroe
  • 26 Sawyers
  • 24 Gornell
Ref: Waugh
Att: 5,931

Match Stats

Shots

16 11

On target

7 5

Corners

1 11

Fouls

11 11

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:47 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +3:53

Terry Gornell takes a shot. Save by Jake Cole. Matthew Richards takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Simon Walton.

90:00 +2:15

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marvin Morgan by Maxime Blanchard. Centre by Matthew Richards, Marvin Morgan takes a shot.

89:40 Booking

Booking Alex MacDonald is cautioned.

88:37

Marvin Morgan concedes a free kick for a foul on Maxime Blanchard. Jake Cole restarts play with the free kick.

84:58

Robbie Williams restarts play with the free kick.

84:58 Substitution

Substitution Paul Wotton leaves the field to be replaced by Conor Hourihane.

84:58

Foul by David McAllister on Paul Wotton, free kick awarded.

82:56

Nicky Wroe takes a shot from long range clearing the crossbar.

81:05

Corner taken left-footed by Matthew Richards from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Simon Walton.

80:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Terry Gornell by Paul Wotton. Matthew Richards takes the free kick.

79:25

Inswinging corner taken by Mark Wright.

78:54

Short corner worked by Mark Wright.

77:30

David McAllister takes a shot. Save made by Jake Cole. Mark Wright takes a corner.

76:15

Onismor Bhasera challenges David McAllister unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Matthew Richards.

75:16 Substitution

Substitution Terry Gornell on for Jon Taylor.

74:01

Alex MacDonald has an effort at goal from outside the area hitting the post.

73:39

Juvhel Tsoumou takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

71:36

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jermaine Grandison on Alex MacDonald. A cross is delivered by Paul Wotton, Juvhel Tsoumou produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

70:19 Substitution

Substitution Alex MacDonald on for Warren Feeney.

68:53

Mark Wright gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Durrell Berry. Direct free kick taken by Jake Cole.

68:32

Marvin Morgan takes a shot. Save by Jake Cole.

68:00

Foul by Onismor Bhasera on Ian Sharps, free kick awarded. Ian Sharps takes the direct free kick.

66:41

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Juvhel Tsoumou by Jermaine Grandison. Shot comes in from Robbie Williams from the free kick.

65:46

James Collins has an effort at goal from outside the area which goes wide right of the goal.

64:47

Juvhel Tsoumou has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the target.

64:03

Onismor Bhasera takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

63:33

The assistant referee signals for offside against Juvhel Tsoumou. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

61:29

Corner from right by-line taken by Matthew Richards.

61:29 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Wroe on for Joe Jacobson.

60:21

Foul by Ian Sharps on Juvhel Tsoumou, free kick awarded. Paul Wotton delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by Marvin Morgan.

55:04

Mark Wright fouled by Paul Wotton, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Joe Jacobson.

52:59 Substitution

Substitution Juvhel Tsoumou replaces Nick Chadwick.

52:17

Corner taken by Mark Wright from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Simon Walton.

49:41

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Collins by Darren Purse. Matthew Richards produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick, Nick Chadwick gets a block in.

49:13

Conor McLaughlin fouled by Onismor Bhasera, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Ian Sharps.

47:36

Warren Feeney concedes a free kick for a foul on Ian Sharps. Free kick taken by Chris Neal.

45:28

Paul Wotton takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal. Corner taken by Robbie Williams played to the near post, Jon Taylor makes a clearance.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +2:10 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +1:20

Simon Walton fouled by Marvin Morgan, the ref awards a free kick. Jake Cole restarts play with the free kick.

45:00 +0:35

The ball is crossed by Jon Taylor, Marvin Morgan takes a shot. Save made by Jake Cole.

41:30

Corner taken left-footed by Matthew Richards, Marvin Morgan has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

38:13

Inswinging corner taken by Matthew Richards.

36:15

Joe Lennox takes a shot. Blocked by Jermaine Grandison.

35:32

Jermaine Grandison challenges Nick Chadwick unfairly and gives away a free kick. Durrell Berry restarts play with the free kick.

35:32

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nick Chadwick by Jermaine Grandison. Darren Purse takes the free kick.

34:27

Joe Lennox takes a shot. Comfortable save by Chris Neal.

33:53

Warren Feeney is caught offside. Chris Neal restarts play with the free kick.

32:55

Robbie Williams takes the free kick.

32:55 Booking

Booking Conor McLaughlin is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

32:48

Unfair challenge on Onismor Bhasera by Conor McLaughlin results in a free kick.

31:53

Effort from deep inside the area by Simon Walton clears the bar.

28:14

Warren Feeney has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.

25:31

Ian Sharps restarts play with the free kick.

25:31 Booking

Booking Nick Chadwick booked.

25:05

Nick Chadwick concedes a free kick for a foul on Ian Sharps.

22:26

Unfair challenge on Jon Taylor by Robbie Williams results in a free kick. Conor McLaughlin restarts play with the free kick.

20:07

Onismor Bhasera provided the assist for the goal.

20:07 Goal scored

Goal - Paul Wotton - Plymouth 1 - 0 Shrewsbury Paul Wotton scores a goal direct from the free kick from a long way out to the top right corner of the goal. Plymouth 1-0 Shrewsbury.

19:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Onismor Bhasera by Conor McLaughlin.

17:51

Ian Sharps gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nick Chadwick. Robbie Williams produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

16:59

Mark Wright has a headed effort at goal from close in which goes wide left of the goal.

13:53

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Matthew Richards from the right by-line to the near post, Darren Purse makes a clearance.

11:35

Nick Chadwick concedes a free kick for a foul on Jermaine Grandison. Joe Jacobson restarts play with the free kick.

10:27

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Mark Wright, save by Jake Cole.

8:57

Warren Feeney has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

7:36

Nick Chadwick takes a shot. Save by Chris Neal.

5:58

The assistant referee signals for offside against James Collins. Jake Cole restarts play with the free kick.

2:18

Paul Wotton has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.

1:27

James Collins handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Maxime Blanchard takes the free kick.

0:34

Marvin Morgan produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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