Ex-Swan Whittaker’s instinctive first-half strike would be just what the Swans would lack on the day as a hatful of chances would go begging.
Brazilian Ronald would look lively on his home debut but the lack of composure in the final third would again come back to haunt the Swans.
Having lost their last three games in all competitions the Swans came into the fixture looking for a confidence-boosting victory to kick-start the Luke Williams era.
Williams’ side’s performance levels were better in spells against Leicester City in the midweek 3-1 loss, however, a combination of errors and poor finishing cost the Swans dear with the Welsh outfit dropping to 17th place in the Championship standings.
With just three wins in 15 league games, they welcomed a Plymouth side two places higher in the table in what felt like a must-win game before a run of playing four out of the top eight sides in the division.
Williams would welcome new additions Charles Sagoe Jr and Przemyslaw Placheta to his matchday squad but would be without defenders Harrison Ashby and Harry Darling whose injuries against the Foxes have sidelined the pair to a spell on the sidelines.
Joining them would be Jamal Lowe, Liam Walsh, Azeem Abdulai and Josh Key to sit out the clash as Williams made four changes handing a first start to Brazilian Ronald, whilst Ben Cabango, Kyle Naughton and Ollie Cooper would also feature.
Visitors Plymouth have struggled on the road this season and have failed to win in the 14 games away from the Devon coast. A credible draw against high-flying Leeds United in the FA Cup last weekend showed that under new manager Ian Foster things are improving and they would come to South Wales hopeful that they could pick up their first win since 2002.
The Championship’s second top scorer ex-Swan Morgan Whittaker would lead the line for last season’s League One champions hoping to add to his 15 strikes this campaign for Foster’s side which showed three changes from the trip to Elland Road.
Experienced ex-Leeds man Adam Forshaw coming into midfield along with Darko Gyabi, whilst on loan Spurs attacker Alfie Devine would get a second start.
It would be the home side who would look the more threatening of the two sides in the opening period, looking to play on the front-foot.
The Swans would see the games first sight at goal. Nathan Wood firing over the crossbar after Matt Grimes’ teasing free kick into the Plymouth penalty area was only half-cleared.
In front of vocal home support, Williams’s side would continue to probe and would come close through Cooper after the Welsh international had won possession back high up the pitch before drilling a deflected effort wide of the post.
It would be the visitors who would be first to strike, however, against the run of play. Carl Rushworth would save brilliantly to turn Whittaker’s powerful shot from 25-yards over the crossbar.
From the resulting corner though the ex-Swan would cleverly lose his marker on the edge of the penalty area before firing a low effort into the bottom-right-hand corner past a helpless Rushworth.
The Swans would respond well but would lack composure in the final third. Jamie Paterson uncharacteristically guilty of being sloppy in possession, before moments later missing a glorious opening. The former Coventry forward shooting wildly over the crossbar after Ronald had found space on the right-hand side.
With the Swans on top, chances would be presented to top scorer Jerry Yates whose low effort from Ronald’s perfectly weighted pass would be smothered by Conor Hazard in the Pilgrims goal, before Wood would head over Cabango’s flick-on from the resulting corner.
The Swans would start the second period in the same vein as they finished the first. Brazilian winger Ronald once again getting the better of his marker to whip in a sumptuous cross to the near post. Yates Arriving late, however, would only be able to head wide a difficult chance.
The Swans would introduce Placheta looking for an added impetus in the final third, but it would be Plymouth who would be next to be guilty of squandering a good opening. Poor Swans defending going unpunished as the ball would pinball around the penalty area before Gyabi would fire wastefully over the bar.
Ronald would be excellent on the day and would very nearly get on the scoresheet himself. Cooper finding space on the left to drift in a cross towards the Brazilian. With Hazard scrambling he would just about manage to get a hand on the ball taking it off the head of the forward on the goal line.
Substitute Liam Cullen would be next to come close to what started to look like an elusive goal for the home side. A rasping effort from 25-yards clattering the Plymouth crossbar with Hazard well-beaten.
It would be a frustrating afternoon for the home side who despite having the best of the chances would leave the match pointless with a lack of a clinical edge costing them dear.
Swansea City X1
Carl Rushworth, Josh Tymon, Kyle Naughton, Ben Cabango, Nathan Wood, Jay Fulton (Przemyslaw Placheta 57), Matt Grimes (Captain), Ollie Cooper (Charlie Patino 77), Jamie Paterson, Ronald (Charles Sagoe Jr 77), Jerry Yates (Liam Cullen 70).
Plymouth Argyle X1
Connor Hazard, Bali Mumba (Matthew Sorinola 85), Ashley Philips, Lewis Gibson, Brendan Galloway, Mickel Miller (Lino Souza 86), Alfie Devine (Adam Randell 75), Darko Gyabi, Adam Forshaw, Morgan Whittaker (captain) (Julio Pleguezuelo 90), Ryan Hardie (Ben Waine 75).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
