Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Oxford United: Hosts earn Championship point in Miron Muslic's first game in charge

Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Plymouth Argyle and Oxford United at Home Park on Tuesday night; Pilgrims earn point in Miron Muslic's first game; Rami Al Hajj's goal cancelled out Will Vaulks' opener to earn Argyle a draw

Wednesday 15 January 2025 09:17, UK

New Plymouth head coach Miron Muslic’s first match in charge ended in a 1-1 home draw against Oxford in the Championship.

Rami Al Hajj's second-half strike cancelled out Will Vaulks' opener to earn Argyle a point.

But the hosts remain without a league win in 12 games and sit rooted to the bottom of the second tier.

Muslic was forced to make a key change to the side which upset Premier League Brentford in the FA Cup with Dan Grimshaw recalled in goal, as Northern Ireland goalkeeper Conor Hazard was ruled out.

Poland international Tymoteusz Puchacz debuted at left-back and record signing Michael Baidoo, who featured at Brentford, made his home bow.

Oxford included their own Poland international Przemyslaw Placheta in their only change from the last league outing.

Grimshaw was called into action in the first minute to punch clear at the far post as Argyle's defence failed to deal with a dangerous cross from the right.

Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming made a brilliant save in the 10th minute to keep out Al Hajj's first-time goal-bound shot to meet Puchacz's pacy cross from the left. Bali Mumba followed up but fired high and over from an acute angle.

Al Hajj went close from 20 yards with a 15th-minute shot on the run, which flew just past the post.

Plymouth playmaker Morgan Whittaker, who scored the winner at Brentford, fired wide from the edge of the box in the 18th minute after being cleverly set up by the busy Al Hajj.

Puchacz went closest from a 23rd-minute corner, from the right, which had to be cleared off the line by a defender.

Mumba then teed up Puchacz for an angled shot just inside the penalty area which flew over the bar from the left.

Against the run of play and with their first shot on target in the first half, Oxford took the lead from a 44th-minute Vaulks strike from outside the box.

Sam Long crossed from the left, putting striker Mark Harris in on goal, but he chose to tee up Vaulks who gave Grimshaw no chance with a thumping first-time drive into the roof of the net from 20 yards.

Oxford came close to scoring a second soon after the break with Vaulks' long throw-in bouncing across the face of Grimshaw's goal.

Argyle restored parity in the 64th minute when a superb Puchacz cross from the left was glanced home by Al Hajj at the near post.

Brendon Galloway headed just over from a Puchacz free-kick with 13 minutes left as Argyle went in search of a winner.

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Take a look into Miron Muslic's first speech to his new players following their FA Cup shock-win over Premier League side Brentford after he was appointed Plymouth Argyle manager at the weekend X Credit: Argyle

But Grimshaw had to make a brilliant stoppage-time stop to deny Oxford substitute Siriki Dembele as he raced through the home defence and let fly on the run from just inside the box and the 'keeper again denied Dembele with a minute remaining.

The managers

Plymouth's Miron Muslic:

"If you can't win, don't lose. It is a point. We have only conceded one goal in the last three games.

"It was very emotional when you see the reception. Now I know what it feels like to have a home game, I have nothing but respect for that so thank you very much Green Army, this will give us the boost and confidence we need. It is like having a 12th man.

"I can't wait until Saturday and now I know what to expect. We will have more time to prepare for QPR, adapt and organise ourselves."

Oxford's Gary Rowett:

"I thought we started brightly and had a 10, 15-minute spell where we got into those pockets. They didn't hurt us massively.

"It was almost about whether we could keep our concentration and we switched off for the goal. They didn't create too many chances. With a new manager in place they are always going to play with a spirit.

"I am not disappointed with a point. We had some late chances and could have walked away with it.

"We have got a good group who want fight for each other. To see the game out like we did, I was really pleased.

"When you get the defensive side of the game right, the rest takes care of itself. We are unbeaten in five and in this division you pick up those points and they make massive points at the end of the season."