Plymouth Argyle boss Steven Schumacher fumes at the referee after what ended up being a very late equaliser for hosts Burton Albion.
Adrian Mariappa snatched a last-ditch equaliser to deny the League One leaders maximum points in an enthralling 2-2 draw on Saturday.
The former Watford and Crystal Palace defender headed the ball into the back of the net from close range seven minutes into added time after the Argyle had come from behind to lead.
Burton, who sit in the third tier relegation zone, showed several set-pieces which made it uncomfortable for the Plymouth defence.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson had an attempt on the Argyle goal with a deflection taking the ball wide of the target.
Victor Adeboyejo hit a powerful shot into the ands of Michael Cooper and – from the resulting throw-in – the Brewers went ahead.
Tom Hamer’s long throw met Joe Dodoo, as he and Bobby Kamwa saw efforts blocked before Kamwa netted his first senior goal on his full league debut.
Argyle’s strong start to the second half was rewarded when substitute Ryan Hardie scored a penalty kick after fellow replacement Niall Ennis was fouled by Hamer.
Niall Ennis played a huge part in the visitors’ second goal, with a slide-rule pass picking out Bali Mumba, who finished into the top corner.
But just when Plymouth thought they had come away with all three points, up came Mariappa with his first Burton goal to salvage a deserved point as they moved up a spot to third-bottom.
Steven Schumacher reacts to Argyle’s 2-2 draw against Burton Albion.
In partnership with @TheTurmericCo.#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) November 19, 2022
Steven Schumacher was angry with some of the decision-making from EFL referee Martin Woods with one key incident which led to his side conceding a last-gasp equaliser.
There was a clash of heads between Plymouth sub Mickel Miller, who made his debut as a late substitute, and Tom Hamer just outside the penalty area.
Schumacher was adamant a foul should have been awarded to Argyle but Woods, he official, in his first year, instead decided there would be a drop ball.
Burton’s Terry Taylor sent in an unchallenged cross and three successive headers were won by the hosts inside the box before defender Adrian Mariappa netted.
Schumacher said, as per Plymouth Live: “I thought that, especially after the second half performance, we probably deserved to win that game. We knew what we were going to face here.
“When you come to Burton Albion it’s not good to watch, especially early on in the game when they have got energy. They make it really hard for you and you have got to fight and scrap with them, which I felt we did do that quite well.
“We didn’t play any good football in the first half but we stood up to what they threw at us. Then, on the stroke of half-time, they get a little bit of luck where the ball bounces to them in the box and it goes in.
“I thought second half when we made our substitutions we showed loads of energy, loads of good quality, and scored two great goals from nice worked moves, and then looked the only team that was going to go on and win it.
“But some of the decisions that went against us late on in the game were crazy, especially for the drop ball. It should have definitely been a foul for us.
“Mickel Miller heads it, I have just watched it, and their player butts him in the back of the head. It was the sort of fouls that went on all day. We didn’t get the decision, they get a drop ball and unfortunately it has cost us.”
Schumacher continued: “I was trying to ask the fourth official (Carl Boyeson) what the referee had given. It wasn’t clear what he had given.
“I don’t know whether he told any of the players but it looked as though the referee dropped it really quick to their player, right on the half volley, and he has put it in the box, so I felt it was a strange one.”
“There were decisions all day – late tackles, and Nigel Lonwijk got taken out twice and nothing gets done about it.
“There were tackles late on Matt Butcher and Jordan Houghton in the first half and he (Woods) let them get away with too much. He just didn’t ever get a grip of the game.”
Schumacher said: “It should have been three (points), but one point away from home is a good point. We felt we should have won this game and we wanted to win this game, but that’s football, it happens sometime.”
REACTION: Steven Schumacher was angry with the decision-making of first-year EFL referee Martin Woods in Argyle’s 2-2 draw away to Burton, and especially over one key incident which led to his side conceding a last-gasp equaliser. #pafchttps://t.co/wS9Wr1HM0G
— Chris Errington (@ChrisErrington1) November 19, 2022
Dino Maamria was delighted as his lowly Burton side seal a late point against leaders Plymouth.
“I am so happy for him,” Maamria said when told it was Mariappa’s first English League goal for over nine years. “He has been brilliant for us in the dressing room and on the pitch and I am so pleased that he got that goal.
“He is going to get some stick about that.”
He added: “I thought it was a fantastic game of football. Our team finished the game strongly and the character and desire of the team showed.”
“I think in our situation you have to be brave and you have to be bold and I am both,” Maamria said.
“We went with three forwards. Without disrespecting the opposition, we want to have that belief that we can win the game and I thought the three of them were magnificent. First half we had 10 shots to their none.
“Second half they came stronger. They made changes and caused us problems with their pace. The disappointing thing is both goals have come from transition when we had the ball.”
Twitter users reacted as Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher fumes at the referee after his side conceded a very late Burton equaliser…
@CxdyWood: not like this man to make excuses, but this a a valid valid point. sort your refs out @EFL
@PilgrimPetey: Ridiculous substitution trying to waste time!!
@UpTheArgyle1: Where did those extra minutes come from?
@jamespafc1: Hahahahaha couldn’t write it
@Clopeck555: Well that’s a kick in the bollocks #pafc
@Paolomc84: What is it with conceding last minute for 2-2 🤮 #pafc
@MrsFoxtrotwhisk: Weve got to stop conceding late goals #pafc
@MikeT_1984: Flipping Argyle, you just cannot throw away points like that in this league!!! #pafc #frustrating
@DanPAFC10: Absolutely bottled it at the back, all over the place #pafc
@MayflowerLad: Harsh to be too harsh on the lads after the second half performance but this constant switching off at the back is what could cost us. Not good enough. #pafc
@WowWhataKnight: If the ref had blown the whistle when the 6 added on minutes had ended, we would have won that. Credit to Burton for not giving up and fighting to the whistle. #pafc
@ScottYendle: Tbf we should be finishing tinpot teams like burton off. Still unbeaten and still top with key players ti come back 🔥 #pafc
@Howey1993: How many goals over the last 2 seasons have we conceded in stoppage time? Think that’s 3 this season already. Every time we hit 90th minute, defence just go to sleep. #pafc
@nickschickuk: That’s the least Burton deserved. We were awful at times and then looked like we’d won it. But they did not stop pressing us. #pafc #bafc
@NikPAFC: Decent CB needed in January. I’m off to drink some bleach. Cheers, #PAFC 🍹
@troyhill91: Four fucking headers lost in a row hahahaha laughable. Btw if Hardie runs that into the corner instead of shooting with his weak foot from the half way line and we win the game 😂😂 Naive as fuck man #pafc
@ConnorB_19: @EFL refs are a joke ahahaha, gives no added time in the first half when there were more fouls than passes, then adds 6 mins at the end then carry’s on after the 6 FUCKING SHIT #pafc
@Block8489: Fucking poor from Ryan Hardie, trying to shoot from half way on his weak foot, run the clock down!! #pafc
@CarlBarnard15: So bloody frustrating that, how many late goals have we conceded over the months, we can’t shut up shop. 2 points dropped which could be crucial. Feels like a defeat that. Although at 1-0 down again always happy to take a point from a losing position. Vale must win now. #pafc
@pafcelliot135: hardie should have passed man for fuck sakes #pafc
@_jamesgolding: Surely these Plymouth fans aren’t actually questioning the amount of added time? #bafc #pafc
@PAFCRyan: We are tumbling down this league if we don’t spend in January, our current defenders are absolute pony, all well and good having an elite attack but when you leak goals as bad as we do, we will be lucky to scrape the playoffs unless we spend, simples. #pafc
