Kick-off: 19:45
Venue: Home Park
Attendance: 11562
Referee: Russell, M

Live Commentary

Match Report

Plymouth Argyle eased themselves back into the Championship play-off positions with a comprehensive victory over Colchester, who remain deep in relegation trouble.

An 11th minute own goal by right-back Phil Ifil set the Pilgrims on their way before second-half strikes from Argyle strike-pairing Jermaine Easter and Steve MacLean put them out of sight.

An individual strike from U's forward Kevin Lisbie briefly reduced the deficit before Argyle full-back Gary Sawyer restored the three-goal margin with his first ever goal.

Right-winger Gary Teale, who has joined the Pilgrims from Derby until the end of the season, was instrumental in the first, crossing well to the far-post where Ifil, under pressure from Peter Halmosi, headed into his own goal.

Scott Vernon wasted a great opportunity to equalise 15 minutes before the interval when he blazed wastefully over the crossbar after a mazy run from halfway that took him past defenders Russell Anderson, Sawyer and Krisztian Timar.

Easter eased any worries the dominant Pilgrims had that they might be caught out on the break when he deflected a drive from Halmosi past stranded Colchester goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

Within three minutes, fellow striker MacLean was on the scoresheet for the first time since his £500,000 January transfer window move from Cardiff.

The Scot curled home a precise low 25-yard free-kick after Ifil had been yellow-carded for fouling the influential Halmosi.

Lisbie pulled one back to virtual silence after a good pass from Kemal Izzet, but the Pilgrims did not have to wait long before adding a fourth to cement their win.

Sawyer foraged forward to latch onto Teale's cross and squeezed the ball home across Gerken.

The Pilgrims' joy was somewhat soured by a yellow card for Timar which rules him out of next week's trip to Scunthorpe and the subsequent West Country derby at Bristol City.

Plymouth Argyle Team

Colchester United Team

Plymouth Argyle

Colchester United

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides

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