Plymouth Argyle suffer heavy defeat as Sheffield Wednesday claim convincing victory

Plymouth Argyle endured a disappointing afternoon as Sheffield Wednesday marked Dave Challinor's first League One match in charge with a convincing 3-0 victory at Hillsborough.

The Pilgrims made a promising start and looked the more threatening side during the opening exchanges, but were ultimately punished for failing to make their early opportunities count.

Ronan Curtis tested Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Lumley with a long-range effort, with Will Evans quickest to react to the rebound, only for the home keeper to smother the follow-up.

Bradley Ibrahim then missed a golden opportunity to put Argyle ahead when he failed to make contact with the ball in the heart of the Wednesday penalty area.

However, Ibrahim was soon called upon at the other end, producing an important goal-line clearance to deny Di'Shon Bernard, whose header looked destined for the net.

The reprieve proved temporary, though, as Wednesday took the lead on the stroke of half-time. From the resulting corner, Billy Mitchell found the net via a deflection to register his first goal for the Owls and leave Argyle with a mountain to climb after the break.

The Pilgrims looked to find a way back into the contest in the second half but struggled to create the clear-cut chances needed to trouble their hosts.

With 10 minutes remaining, Wednesday effectively put the game beyond reach when Davis Keillor-Dunn arrived unmarked at the back post to turn home a free-kick and double the advantage.

Worse was to follow for Argyle just two minutes later as Bernard surged forward from deep before unleashing a powerful effort which flew into the net off a post to complete the scoring.

The three goals in the closing stages turned what had been a competitive encounter into a comprehensive defeat for the Pilgrims.

Argyle will be particularly disappointed after making the brighter start and creating opportunities to take the lead, only to be left chasing the game following Mitchell's first-half breakthrough.

For Wednesday, it was an ideal start to life under Challinor, while the Pilgrims were left to reflect on a frustrating afternoon in which missed chances and defensive lapses proved costly.