Rotherham beat Plymouth to secure a third successive victory in League Two.

The hosts lost Lionel Ainsworth to injury in the warm-up and then saw Dale Tonge limp off after only four minutes.

Gareth Evans, Lee Frecklington and Ben Pringle went close for Rotherham, while Kari Arnason's header was ruled out for a push.

Guy Madjo missed Plymouth's best chance and the visitors' resilience was broken when Daniel Nardiello set up substitute Kieran Agard from close range.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Rotherham United manager Steve Evans told BBC Radio Sheffield:

"We lacked that little bit of quality in terms of opening the team up, but we've still made the bulk of chances and territorially we've dominated the game.

"That's against a side that I think has made a dramatic improvement, [with] great players, [and a] good manager.

"It was hard earned and hard fought, but it was a big three points for us."

Plymouth Argyle manager Carl Fletcher told Radio Devon:

"We stuck to our task well at times defensively, but I think we were poor in possession today.

"We knew any throw in the final third was coming in the box.

"We're not a massive side but we had a game plan to deal with the set pieces.

"When we got the ball the quality just wasn't there."

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Rotherham United

  • 21 Warrington
  • 02 Tonge (Bradley - 4' )
  • 05 Sharps
  • 20 Morgan
  • 23 Morris
  • 04 Arnason
  • 11 Evans Booked (Agard - 62' )
  • 15 Pringle
  • 27 Frecklington
  • 09 Revell
  • 17 Nardiello (Odejayi - 87' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 30 Thompson
  • 08 Taylor
  • 10 O'Connor
  • 14 Bradley
  • 16 Odejayi
  • 22 Agard

Plymouth Argyle

  • 01 Cole
  • 02 Berry
  • 04 Blanchard
  • 17 Nelson
  • 33 Griffiths
  • 07 Cowan-Hall
  • 08 Young
  • 16 Lowry Booked (Bhasera - 78' )
  • 27 Gurrieri (Chadwick - 72' )
  • 32 MacDonald Booked
  • 18 Madjo (Feeney - 59' )

Substitutes

  • 20 Gilmartin
  • 14 Bhasera
  • 23 Richards
  • 19 Lennox
  • 09 Chadwick
  • 10 Griffiths
  • 11 Feeney
Ref: Bond
Att: 6,938

Match Stats

Shots

19 8

On target

8 1

Corners

7 2

Fouls

10 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:50 Full time

Full Time The referee ends the match.

90:00 +4:14

Close range header by Nick Chadwick goes wide of the left-hand upright.

90:00 +3:41 Booking

Booking Booking for Kayode Odejayi for dissent.

90:00 +2:44

The ball is crossed by Paris Cowan-Hall, Andy Warrington makes a save.

90:00 +1:57

Effort from close range by Alex Revell goes wide left of the target.

90:00 +0:32

Kieran Agard decides to take the corner short.

89:16

Foul by Alex MacDonald on Kieran Agard, free kick awarded. Kieran Agard restarts play with the free kick.

88:36

Kari Arnason fouled by Paris Cowan-Hall, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Andy Warrington.

86:18 Substitution

Substitution Kayode Odejayi replaces Daniel Nardiello.

83:50

Alex Revell is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Jake Cole.

81:55

Shot from just outside the box by Kari Arnason goes over the crossbar.

79:11

Alex Revell produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the right-hand post.

77:39

Free kick taken by Andy Warrington.

77:39 Substitution

Substitution (Plymouth) makes a substitution, with Onismor Bhasera coming on for Jamie Lowry.

77:39

Josh Morris fouled by Nick Chadwick, the ref awards a free kick.

76:44

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Ben Pringle, clearance made by Scott Griffiths.

75:47

Daniel Nardiello produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.

74:47

Foul by Jamie Lowry on Alex Revell, free kick awarded. Mark Bradley restarts play with the free kick.

72:32

Daniel Nardiello provided the assist for the goal.

72:32 Goal scored

Goal - Kieran Agard - Rotherham 1 - 0 Plymouth Kieran Agard fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Rotherham 1-0 Plymouth.

71:30 Substitution

Substitution Nick Chadwick is brought on as a substitute for Andres Gurrieri.

70:45

Effort from inside the area by Daniel Nardiello misses to the left of the goal.

69:52

Craig Morgan takes the free kick.

69:52 Booking

Booking The referee shows Jamie Lowry a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

69:37

Jamie Lowry concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Pringle.

68:30

Daniel Nardiello takes a shot. Save by Jake Cole.

66:44

Kieran Agard challenges Luke Young unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jake Cole takes the direct free kick.

66:11

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kari Arnason by Jamie Lowry. Andy Warrington restarts play with the free kick.

64:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jamie Lowry on Lee Frecklington. Shot comes in from Josh Morris from the free kick, Alex MacDonald gets a block in. Free kick awarded for a foul by Kieran Agard on Luke Young. Jake Cole restarts play with the free kick.

61:38 Substitution

Substitution Kieran Agard joins the action as a substitute, replacing Gareth Evans.

59:48

Foul by Lee Frecklington on Andres Gurrieri, free kick awarded. Shot comes in from Alex MacDonald from the free kick, blocked by Josh Morris.

58:09 Substitution

Substitution Warren Feeney joins the action as a substitute, replacing Guy Madjo.

56:05

Foul by Paris Cowan-Hall on Josh Morris, free kick awarded. Andy Warrington takes the direct free kick.

54:43

The official flags Daniel Nardiello offside. Maxime Blanchard restarts play with the free kick.

54:02

The official flags Paris Cowan-Hall offside. Andy Warrington takes the free kick.

53:06

Guy Madjo gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Morgan. Andy Warrington takes the direct free kick.

52:10

Floated corner taken right-footed by Alex MacDonald from the right by-line, clearance made by Ian Sharps.

51:19

Free kick taken by Andy Warrington.

51:19 Booking

Booking Booking for Alex MacDonald for unsporting behaviour.

50:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Frecklington by Alex MacDonald.

48:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gareth Evans on Scott Griffiths. Jake Cole takes the direct free kick.

46:52

Shot from just outside the area by Gareth Evans goes over the bar.

45:51

Scott Griffiths concedes a free kick for a foul on Gareth Evans. Mark Bradley restarts play with the free kick.

45:21

Andres Gurrieri has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +2:13 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +1:37

Jamie Lowry gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kari Arnason. Josh Morris takes the free kick.

45:00 +1:12

Alex Revell takes a shot. Save by Jake Cole.

45:00 +0:03

Unfair challenge on Alex Revell by Maxime Blanchard results in a free kick. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Ben Pringle from right channel, Jake Cole makes a save.

44:10

A cross is delivered by Josh Morris, Headed effort from inside the area by Gareth Evans misses to the right of the target.

42:22

Guy Madjo concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Morgan. Andy Warrington takes the direct free kick.

41:46

Lee Frecklington challenges Paris Cowan-Hall unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jake Cole restarts play with the free kick.

40:46

Outswinging corner taken by Ben Pringle from the left by-line, Jake Cole makes a save.

38:59

The ball is delivered by Alex MacDonald, Guy Madjo produces a header from inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.

38:15

The referee blows for offside against Daniel Nardiello. Free kick taken by Jake Cole.

36:30

Corner taken by Alex MacDonald, Curtis Nelson has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

35:10

Kari Arnason has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target. Corner taken by Ben Pringle, save by Jake Cole.

33:34

Gareth Evans produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target. Corner taken left-footed by Ben Pringle, save made by Jake Cole.

31:16

Gareth Evans crosses the ball, Scott Griffiths gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ben Pringle, Kari Arnason challenges Curtis Nelson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jake Cole takes the free kick.

30:18

Paris Cowan-Hall has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

25:50

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mark Bradley on Paris Cowan-Hall. Maxime Blanchard takes the direct free kick.

24:25

Long distance shot from Guy Madjo misses to the left of the target.

23:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Josh Morris on Durrell Berry. Jake Cole takes the direct free kick.

21:32

Jamie Lowry takes the direct free kick.

21:32 Booking

Booking Booking for Gareth Evans for unsporting behaviour.

21:12

Foul by Gareth Evans on Paris Cowan-Hall, free kick awarded.

20:07

Shot by Ben Pringle from outside the box goes over the target.

18:10

Ben Pringle takes a shot. Save by Jake Cole. Corner taken by Ben Pringle, Alex Revell takes a shot. Save by Jake Cole.

17:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gareth Evans by Paris Cowan-Hall. Ben Pringle crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Luke Young.

15:58

The official flags Andres Gurrieri offside. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Warrington.

15:35

Lee Frecklington takes a shot. Save made by Jake Cole.

13:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Frecklington on Luke Young. Jake Cole restarts play with the free kick.

9:30

Andres Gurrieri concedes a free kick for a foul on Kari Arnason. Direct free kick taken by Andy Warrington.

8:51

Gareth Evans takes a shot. Save by Jake Cole.

3:31

Andy Warrington restarts play with the free kick.

3:31 Substitution

Substitution Dale Tonge goes off and Mark Bradley comes on.

3:31

The official flags Guy Madjo offside.

1:24

Andres Gurrieri produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the goal.

0:29

Kari Arnason has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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