Middlesbrough 0 Plymouth Argyle 1

GORDON STRACHAN'S first game ended in defeat as Plymouth kept a clean sheet for the first time this season, Adam Johnson missed a penalty and Emanuel Pogatetz was taken off on a stretcher, writes GORDON COX from the Riverside.

Pogatetz tasted first team football for the first time since early April as he was named in Gordon Strachan's first team.

The team contained a surprise as Julio Arca was named as the right-sided midfield player in a 4-4-2 formation. David Wheater retained the captaincy while Didier Digard started the game on the bench, together with new signing Marcus Bent.

There were two changes to the Plymouth side that drew with Ipswich last Saturday, Alan Gow and Yoann Folly replacing Jim Paterson and Rory Fallon.

Darcy Blake missed the game, suspended after being sent-off 22 minutes after going on as sub last week.

Strachan's side were given a scare in the opening two minutes as Argyle worked a free-kick a few yards up from the right-hand edge of the Boro box to Alan Judge, who cracked a drive from central midfield just wide of Brad Jones's left-hand post.

But it was Boro who settled began to dictate the pace of the game, though Adam Johnson put too much weight on a free-kick aimed for the back post and Leroy Lita was crowded out as he entered the penalty area.

The best chance in the early exchanges came with 11 minutes played as Johnson cut in from the left and sent picked out Marvin Emnes seven yards from goal, but his shot, which seemed to lack conviction, was blocked by Ireland U21 international Shane Lowry.

Up to this point Strachan spent most of the game in the technical area, as did his opposite number Paul Sturrock and assistant Paul Mariner.

Plymouth were next to open up a chance down their right as Jamie Mackie and Karl Duguid chased a long ball from the left. Mackie elected to take possession, though Duguid was approaching from a better angle and David Wheater produced a timely clearance.

It was the visitors who created the next half chance as well as Alan Gow hurriedly sent a rising drive over the bar from an angled 14 yards.

A period of calm descended on the game, punctuated by another chance for the visitors as Judge capitalised on a Pogatetz slip inside the Boro half and saw a powerful shot turned round for a corner.

Jones was again in the thick of the action as Duguid shot for goal when meeting a cross from the right, the goalkeeper flinging himself away to his right to turn away.

Gary O'Neil doesn't get caught in possession very often but when he was robbed by Mackie midway in the Boro half Argyle had a break. A low drive into the penalty area brought a fine intervention from Sean St Ledger.

Boro were reading the game and passing well, but the direct chances and more direct play weren't bringing reward.

Two half-chances approaching the final five minutes raised hope, but Judge, an influence all over the park, intercepted well before Lita shot low, forcing a save from Romain Larrieu.

Approaching the final minute of the half Boro cut loose with good work from Lita and an on-target drive from Johnson that hit the chest of Lowry before he despatched a shot over the top after cutting past one defender and just into the penalty area.

Half-time: Boro 0 Argyle 0

Strachan made a change at half-time, replacing Emnes with Bent.

A second change was enforced soon after as Pogatetz clashed heads when contesting possession with Lowry inside the Plymouth penalty area and was clearly in trouble.

It took several minutes before he was loaded onto a stretcher and replaced by Jonathan Grounds.

Boro went on the offensive, Lita was denied a penalty when seemingly tugged back before Arca cut in from the right, danced past two and set up Wheater. His low shot was cleared off the line, hit the goalkeeper and rebounded towards goal before being grabbed on the line by Larrieu.

Just when it seemed Boro were building a head of steam Argyle broke, Mackie got the better of Wheater and Jones was called into action again.

Johnson cut in from the left in another Boro attack but pulled a right-footed shot wide from the edge of the box.

But it was Argyle who opened the scoring with 64 minutes played as Jamie Mackie again got the better of Wheater on the edge of the Boro box and drilled a low shot past the advancing Jones from 14 yards.

Bent, who had earlier not quite made the right contact on an Arca cross, had a great chance to equalise just four minutes later but after rising high to make firm contact this time he headed across goal and wide from seven yards.

When Lita was brought down on the left-hand edge of the penalty area it was a good position for a Johnson. His free-kick was played low to O'Neil, whose low drive was charged down and Argyle broke.

It was four on one in Plymouth's favour, but they laboured the move, Boro got back quickly and Justin Hoyte did well to clear.

Boro were handed a great chance to get back into the game with 79 minutes played when referee Mike Russell, who had a mixed afternoon, adjudged St Ledger to have been brought down inside the Plymouth penalty area after the defender made a storming run forward.

But Adam Johnson's spot kick struck the outside of Larrieu's left-hand post and went out for a goal kick.

A wicked Johnson cross from the right entering seven minutes of injury-time evaded all, while another was headed clear by Folly.

*Boro's U18s drew 2-2 with Sheffield United at Rockliffe Park this afternoon. Ryan Brobbel and Connor Murphy were the goalscorers.

Middlesbrough: Jones; Hoyte, Wheater (Capt), St Ledger, Pogatetz (Grounds 52), Arca (Yeates 87), O'Neil, Williams, A Johnson, Lita, Emnes (Bent 46). Unused subs: Coyne (gk); McMahon, Digard, Franks.

Plymouth Argyle: Larrieu; Sawyer, Gray, Lowry, Judge (Clark 81), Gow (Barnes 81), Fletcher (Capt), Duguid, Arnason, Mackie, Folly. Unused subs: Letheren (gk); Paterson, Timar, Mason, Sheridan.

Referee: Mike Russell

Bookings

Middlesbrough: None

Plymouth Argyle: Fletcher, 79, dissent.

Attendance: 21,141 (711 Plymouth)

Conditions: Warm and sunny with a gentle breeze.

Website Boro Man of the Match: Rhys Williams