An honourable defeat as Argyle force Championship Birmingham into extra time

Birmingham City 3

Allan 49, 83, Bartley 90+2

Plymouth Argyle 2

Alessandra 60, 90

(after extra time, 2-2 at full-time)

Capital One Cup, 1st Round, Tuesday 6 August 2013

It may have been a second defeat in two games, but Plymouth Argyle responded to criticism of their lacklustre weekend performance with a much improved display against Championship Birmingham in the Capital One Cup.

Twice behind in normal time, Argyle twice found equalisers against the club two divisions higher in the Football League to take a thrilling match into extra time.

After a goaless and fairly even first half, Birmingham took an early lead in the second through Scott Allan and could have made it two from the penalty spot but Jake Cole saved from Lee Novak.

Then, on the hour, new signing Lewis Alesandro hit an absolute screamer of a shot from 20 yards which beat Colin Doyle and brought Argyle level.

Scott Allan's scored his second goal on 83 minutes and with time ticking away, it looked like Argyle's chances were gone; but Alessandro scored again in stoppage time to take the game into extra time.

Early into stoppage time, Birmingham defender Kyle Bartley hit what would turn out to be the winner. Argyle threw everything they could at the home side's goal but could not muster a third equaliser on the night.

Manager John Sheridan will surely be delighted with his team's transformation from their tentative showing at Southend on Saturday.

It bodes well for this coming Saturday's first home game of the season - the League Two encounter with Fleetwood Town.

For a full match report, visit the Plymouth Argyle website at www.pafc.co.uk.

Match Stats

Birmingham City (4-3-3): 1 Colin Doyle; 2 Neal Eardley, 5 Kyle Bartley, 6 Dan Burn, 27 Shane Ferguson (20 Oliver Lee 90); 24 Tom Adeyemi (15 Wade Elliott 77), 17 Callum Reilly, 26 Scott Allan; 7 Chris Burke (capt), 12 Lee Novak, 16 Koby Arthur (4 Paul Robinson 71). Substitutes (not used): 1 Darren Randolph (gk), 8 Hayden Mullins, 22 Andrew Shinnie, 25 Matt Green.

Booked: Arthur 67, Burn 69, Eardley 111

Plymouth Argyle (4-3-1-2): 1 Jake Cole; 2 Durrell Berry, 16 Neal Trotman, 17 Curtis Nelson, 3 Andre Blackman; 7 Lewis Alessandra, 6 Conor Hourihane (capt), 11 Dominic Blizzard (14 Luke Young 105); 8 Romuald Boco (24 Isaac Vassell 88); 9 Reuben Reid (18 Tyler Harvey 78), 10 Marvin Morgan. Substitutes (not used): 22 Jamie Richards, 23 Luke McCormick (gk), 25 Ben Purrington, 30 Ryan Lane.

Booked: Alessandra 71

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Attendance: 10,178 (668 away)