Managerless Plymouth snatch dramatic point in first game after Wayne Rooney departure
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Plymouth 2-2 Bristol City: Julio Pleguezuelo acrobatically turned home in stoppage time to earn a draw. 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.
![[Julio Pleguezuelo scored late on]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/01/17/newFile-1.jpg)
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 the greens, and then Pleguezuelo.
![[Wayne Rooney left Plymouth Argyle on New Year’s Eve]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/31/10/2d609c0e-2471-4c34-af2d-2d4deccd57d0.jpg)
First-team coach Kevin Nancekivell replaced Rooney - who left the club by mutual consent on New Year’s Eve - on the touchline as Argyle kicked off 2025 managerless and in incessant rain at Home Park. 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.
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 on to a through ball from Randell and let fly from just outside the penalty area.
