Plymouth Argyle beat Burnley 3 – 1 at Home Park this afternoon extending their winning run to four games, just a shame they couldn’t keep a clean sheet. Lilian Nalis scored his first goal in 43 matches capitalising on Burnley’s defensive confusion failing to clear their lines to volley home from the edge of the penalty area on 12 minutes. Seven minutes later James O’Connor levelled things for the Clarets from close range heading Kyle Lafferty’s flick on down into the bottom of the net. Peter Halmosi restored the lead in the 35th minute sending Steve MacLean’s intelligent pass crashing into the top of the net. The Clarets came out in the second half and looking the better team pushing forward but couldn’t beat Greens keeper (Super) Luke McCormick. Peter Halmosi killed off the game in the 76th minute picking up on a loose ball, losing his marker to unleash a low drive from just inside the penalty area to defeat Brian Jenson for the third time. So Argyle have moved back upto 5th in the league courtesy of Blackpool and Stoke beating play-off rivals Charlton and Ipswich respectively. Leicester also lost again being beaten 2 – 0 away at fellow struggler’s Coventry. You have to wonder how much time Ian Holloway has left in charge of the Foxes given owner Milan Mandaric’s reputation for wielding the axe if things don’t go his way very quickly!
Liverpool also got back to winning way in the Premiership beating Middlesbrough 3 – 2 Anfield. Liverpool reinvigorated after their 2 – 0 midweek win over Inter Milan but still had to come from behind to claim the three points. Tuncay Sanli made an intelligent run to beat Liverpool’s offside trap to meet Stewart Downing’s cross to head Middlesbrough into the lead in the 8th minute. Then approaching the half hour mark Fernando Torres scored twice in two minutes to give the Reds the lead. First one from close range and the second a long range effort that caught out the Middlesbrough defence. Torres claimed his hat-trick and made it 3 – 1 to Liverpool in the 61st minute with another long range effort. Stewart Downing made in 3 – 2 from close range diverting Julio Arca’s pass goal bound. Then Middlesbrough’s chances of salvaging a point was dealt a mighty blow as Jeremie Aliadiere was sent off for violent conduct and had to play the remainder of the game with 10 men. So this win means Liverpool move back into 4th in the league, which is amazing as they have only won two league games since the new year, let’s hope this will be the start of a run!