Plymouth ease past Oldham to move out of relegation zone

Posted Sunday, December 24, 2017 by PA

Plymouth recorded their biggest League One win of the season by beating Oldham 4-1 at Home Park and as a result moved out of the relegation zone.

Argyle got off to a superb start, scoring twice in the opening six minutes and - but for a brilliant on-the-line block by Ryan McLaughlin - it could have been more.

French midfielder Toumani Diagouraga opened the scoring after three minutes, rounding Latics goalkeeper Johny Placide to score after being put in on goal by target man Ryan Taylor's deft pass.

Taylor was also involved in the second goal, teeing up midfielder David Fox, whose scooped ball enabled playmaker Graham Carey to lob Placide and make it 2-0.

The Latics stopper relied on McLaughlin's assistance to deny Diagouraga from point-blank range as Carey cleverly rolled the ball across the goal-line from the right.

Oldham got back into the game after 57 minutes as skipper Anthony Gerrard powered in a headed goal from Jack Byrne's corner.

Oldham's joy was short-lived though as Plymouth central defender Ryan Edwards looped home a header from Carey's 30-yard free-kick two minutes later.

Plymouth went 4-1 up as 71st-minute substitute Jake Jervis scored with his first touch after running on to a defence-splitting through-ball.