Cardiff City 1 - 0 Blackburn Rovers: Pilgrims punish Carlisle at their temporary Blackburn base

Posted Sunday, January 03, 2016 by PA

Plymouth beat Carlisle with a solid 2-0 win in a game decided by Ryan Brunt's deflected first-half free-kick and a stoppage-time strike from Gregg Wylde.

For Sky Bet League Two leaders Argyle it meant 12 points out of 12 from their festive season programme, at the same time ending Carlisle's own six-game unbeaten run.

Carlisle, playing their home fixture at Blackburn's Ewood Park after Storm Desmond left Brunton Park under water, tempted fate as they conceded a series of free-kicks within shooting range of their goal.

Jake Jervis forced Mark Gillespie to dive full length to clutch an early free-kick and Argyle went in front in the 26th minute after Jason Kennedy fouled Jervis 25 yards out to give Plymouth another chance.

Brunt lined up a powerful right-footed shot which took a big deflection to leave the Carlisle goalkeeper stranded as it flew past him into the net.

Despite having a major share of the second-half possession Carlisle were finding it difficult to break down a well-organised Plymouth defence, although Antony Sweeney did draw a point-blank save from Luke McCormick with a close-range effort.

Mark Ellis got on the end of Danny Grainger's cross but saw his header flash just wide as the Cumbrians worked hard but lacked the craft to fashion an equaliser.

Wylde clinched it for Plymouth in stoppage time when he got away on the right of the box to lash in a low drive which spun up off Troy Archibald-Henville leaving Gillespie helpless.