Trundle sends Swans fifth

Trundle: Swansea match-winner

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Lee Trundle scored the only goal of the game as Swansea overcame Plymouth to move into the play-off zone.

The on-loan striker only came on as a substitute at half-time but he staked his claim for a permanent deal with a close-range finish.

To compound Plymouth's misery Shane Lowry was sent off for a second bookable offence in stoppage time after a scuffle with Gorka Pintado.

Swansea made a bright start and full-back Angel Rangel almost opened the scoring in his 100th appearance for the club with a right-footed strike that was narrowly wide.

David Cotterill had a chance to mark his first Swansea start with a goal, but the on-loan winger's right-footed free-kick was comfortably saved by Plymouth goalkeeper Romain Larrieu.

Austrian striker Besian Idrizaj, also making his first start for Swansea, should have done better when he met Cotterill's corner 12 yards from goal but fired over the crossbar.

Swansea were almost caught cold four minutes before half-time when Carl Fletcher crossed for former Swans striker Rory Fallon, but the New Zealand international's header was off target.

Frustrated

The home side were being frustrated by Plymouth and struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, with Wales Under 21 midfielder Joe Allen firing tamely wide just before the interval.

Paulo Sousa responded to his side's first-half display by making a double substitution at the break, with strike duo Trundle and Pintado replacing Allen and Idrizaj.

And that proved to be a masterstroke, with fans' favourites Trundle putting Swansea in front seven minutes after coming on.

Nathan Dyer beat three men in the middle of the park and found Pintado on the right, and the Spanish striker fired across goal into the path of Trundle and he made no mistake with a left-footed finish from six yards out.

Paul Sturrock's side almost responded immediately but Kari Arnason headed Alan Judge's inswinging corner wide.

The visitors forged another opportunity after 62 minutes when Judge crossed for Fallon, but the giant striker headed straight at Swans keeper Dorus De Vries from close range.

Arnason had another chance to restore parity 15 minutes from time but the midfielder flashed his shot wide.

And then right at the death, on-loan defender Lowry was dismissed after clashing with Pintado on what proved to be another miserable outing for Plymouth.