Plymouth 1-1 Swansea

Swansea midfielder Darren Pratley celebrates his sixth of the season

Damien Johnson secured a crucial point for relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle in dramatic circumstances against play-off chasing Swansea City.

Darren Pratley's marked his 200th club game with a right-footed stunner at the start of the second-half to give the Swans a well-deserved lead.

But Argyle were awarded a late penalty when Andrea Orlandi was penalised for handball before he was to be replaced.

Johnson converted the rebound after his spot-kick was saved by Dorus de Vries.

In fact, Jamie Mackie stepped up to take the initial spot-kick which De Vries saved - but referee Keith Hill felt the Swans keeper had moved too far off his line and ordered the kick to be re-taken.

Johnson took responsibility the second time - and although De Vries saved this penalty as well, the Northern Ireland midfielder knocked in the rebound to cancel out Pratley's opener.

It was Johnson's first goal in almost three years as second-bottom Plymouth held fourth-placed Swansea who extended their ten-match unbeaten league run.

Pratley had tested David Stockdale from close in early on but striker Gorka Pintado brought a decent save from the Argyle goalkeeper with a 12-yard drive after the visitors had dominated early on.

606: DEBATE We missed the penalty and scored from the save. We had 60% possession but we were awful tonight. A point, though, in the end is a good result Argyle88

Orlandi forced another impressive stop from Stockdale after good work from Pratley after Johnson had an early shot saved by De Vries while Karl Duguid and Johnson again went close.

But Swansea snatched the lead within seconds of the restart although Pratley looked suspiciously offside when Angel Rangel sent him clear but the midfielder kept his cool to convert his sixth goal of the season.

Swansea dominated and Stockdale had to save well from Pratley's 18-yard attempt and a Thomas Butler strike.

But Argyle defender Kari Arnason saw a shot blocked in the box before the late drama unfolded as Johnson was in the right place to tap in the rebound from his spot-kick.

Plymouth Argyle manager Paul Mariner said:

"The key thing for me was the way we responded after they scored.

"At half time it was goalless and we said 'let's go for this' because we had something to build on - and they went and scored straight away.

"It was a good goal, well taken but we showed what we are about because we got straight back at them.

"I was delighted with Damien for the way he finished from the rebound because he had to volley it up in the air, he kept his cool in a difficult situation. He did that and did it well."

Swansea City manager Paulo Sousa said:

"Everyone in the ground could see what happened. I have watched a replay of it since and the keeper's foot is on the line.

"Dorus did well to save to save them both and showed what he can do when he is called upon although we have not needed him for the past month or so.

"We dominated the game for long spells but we needed two or three touches on that pitch when normally we would only need one and we were not able to play the way we wanted - and pass it quickly."

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