Plymouth 3-3 Cardiff

Michael Chopra's two goals for Cardiff were not enough

Cardiff threw away a three-goal lead in spectacular fashion as Plymouth fought back for a draw at Home Park, thanks largely to two Cardiff own-goals.

Steve Thompson volleyed Cardiff into an early lead from Michael Chopra's cross.

When Chopra struck twice, stealing into the box then converting a cross, the Bluebirds seemed to be home and dry.

But Cardiff defender Kevin McNaughton sliced into his own net, Barry Hayles bundled home from close range, before Daren Purse headed a second own-goal.

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Plymouth manager Ian Holloway:
"I was tempted to make the change at half-time. Once Lilian Nalis and Akos Buzsaky came on they changed it for us, they both played their parts.

"We had a bit of luck with the first goal to get us back into it.

"But then the momentum was with us and these lads don't know how to give up. I am very proud of them."

Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"Even at 3-2 I thought we would be all right, but we have got a young side, a young defence.

"They learned from Saturday's defeat at Preston and I thought that showed here the way we played for the first 75 minutes because we pulverised Plymouth.

"Now they must learn from this. They have not got experience but I have and that's what I must pass on to them."

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Plymouth: McCormick, Barness (Buzsaky 56), Doumbe, Aljofree, Hodges, Norris, Wotton (Nalis 56), Summerfield, Capaldi, Ebanks-Blake (Chadwick 84), Hayles.
Subs Not Used: Seip, Reid.

Booked: Hayles.

Goals: McNaughton 69 og, Hayles 74, Purse 88 og.

Cardiff: Alexander, Gilbert, Purse, Johnson, McNaughton, Parry (Flood 81), McPhail, Scimeca, Ledley, Chopra, Thompson (Campbell 80).
Subs Not Used: Glombard, Kamara, Blake.

Booked: McNaughton, Ledley, Chopra, Gilbert, Johnson.

Goals: Thompson 8, Chopra 29, 49.

Att: 1,655

Ref: S Tanner (Somerset).