Ian Atkins may have been tempted to switch back to 4-4-2 but he chose to stay loyal to his 5-3-2 formation which has served him well in recent weeks.

There were few real chances in the opening half but Carlisle held what small edge there was. A chance fell to Steve Soley after Scott Dobie had put goalkeeper Jon Sheffield under pressure but his shot screwed wide of the target. Sheffield looked uncomfortable with crosses all afternoon and United's gameplan seemed to consist of getting the ball in to the box as often as possible.

Argyle were getting men behind the ball and United struggled to get in behind them with the visitors keeping a close eye on Scott Dobie, who was outstanding against Hartlepool in midweek.

Frenchman David Friio went into the book for Argyle and Stuart Whitehead made an ill-timed challenge to join him in referee Caye's notebook.

Argyle had shown limited attacking invention in the opening half but they snatched a goal seven minutes into the second period. They got away down the right wing and a curling cross in by Paul McGregor was despatched by Friio who met the ball with his forehead and guided it past Matty Glennon. It was the only real chance they created all afternoon but it was a clinically taken strike.

Atkins responded by throwing on Anthony Hemmings and Gordon Connelly for Richard Prokas and Darren Carr. Connelly could have won a penalty when he appeared to be shoved inside the box. Maybe he made a bit too much of it as he fell theatrically to the floor but contact did appear to be made.

Whitehead got on the end of a deep Galloway corner but his header was comfortably claimed by Sheffield. A Soley shot was pushed away by Sheffield and Argyle scrambled the ball away. United were pushing more men forward and they had a great chance when Ian Stevens pulled down a through ball and rounded Sheffield only for a defender to get back and clear. Had Stevens been a yard quicker or a couple of years younger he might have made more of the opportunity. Steve Halliday came on to make it a three-man attack. United came even closer when Argyle defender Paul Wotton almost slotted the ball into his own net when he lunged to make a clearance. The ball ran agonisingly wide of the far post.

The pressure paid off with six minutes remaining. Hemmings found a bit of space down the left to whip in a dangerous cross, the ball was flicked on by Dobie and the late arriving Stevens drove in to claim his 13th goal of the season - unlucky 13 for Plymouth who had set out their stall to defend and play primarily on the break.

Unfortunately there was no real pressure or chances to convert the point into three. Argyle continued to sit back and soak up what came to them and at the end of a hard-fought contest, one point was the best we could expect.

Al's Verdict : Well I expected Plymouth to play cagily and they did. Their's was a well taken goal to be fair but considering the amount of the ball we had, we must be disappointed not to have made more of this opportunity. Other results went against us, but it remains very close at the bottom of the league. I still believe we are a more solid outfit than many of the teams around us and we can scrap our way out of trouble. But it could still be nail-biting.