Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Burton Albion: Pilgrims win promotion to Championship

Plymouth Argyle won promotion to the Championship after a 1-0 victory over Burton Albion at Home Park.

Having seen James Wilson hit the bar Niall Ennis finally broke the deadlock right on half-time as his shot deflected off a defender and into the net.

Burton's John Brayford had a second-half header blocked while home forward Callum Wright spurned a number of efforts afterwards.

Bali Mumba, Dan Scarr and Finn Azaz had efforts stopped on the line in the final five minutes for the hosts.

A tense conclusion to the game, which saw six minutes of stoppage time, was greeted with scenes of jubilation at the final whistle as Argyle returned to the second tier for the first time since 2010.

Their victory means they are five points clear of third-placed Sheffield Wednesday with one game to go, and the Devon side will win the title next week if they better the result of Ipswich - who also sealed promotion on Saturday.

It comes 10 years and a day after Argyle avoided relegation to the National League by a single point thanks to Barnet losing on the final day of the season, having just come out of a financial meltdown that almost saw the club go out of business.

But good ownership since, first under James Brent and then current owner Simon Hallett, has seen Argyle build the foundations that have seen them go from League Two relegation contenders to a Championship club.

Cheered on by a vociferous home crowd, Argyle had a tentative start to the game - they could have been behind inside 15 minutes when Scarr gave the ball away to Josh Walker close to goal, but James Wilson put in a goal-saving challenge to keep the game scoreless.

Ten minutes later Argyle almost took the lead when Danny Mayor saw a shot cleared off the line as it looped towards goal, having taken a heavy deflection, while Brayford stopped a Wright goalbound effort soon after.

But Argyle began to assert control as Mayor became more influential - he set up the chance that led to the corner which Wilson headed against the bar, before threading the ball through to Ennis for his 14th goal of the season - as he cut in on his left foot and saw his shot clip Jasper Moon to wrongfoot Craig MacGillivray.

Matt Butcher blocked a Brayford header with his face 10 minutes into a second half that saw a long stoppage for a head injury to Burton's Moon, not long after kick-off.

Wright missed two big chances as the half wore on - the second, after a lovely passing move, saw the forward have a first effort blocked before blazing wide with the rebound 14 minutes from the end.

Argyle should have won it in the final few minutes as MacGillivray saved a near-post Mumba effort, Scarr had a header cleared off the line and Azaz fired wide.

Dale Taylor almost equalised in the 93rd minute when he headed just wide, but Argyle held on as their fans spilled on to the pitch to celebrate.

A decade ago the Plymouth Argyle avoided relegation to the National League by a single point thanks to other sides' results on the final day of the season.

Back then they were coming out of a damaging administration that almost killed the club.

Businessman James Brent brought the Pilgrims out of the mire and subsequently sold the club to lifelong fan and multi-millionaire Simon Hallett - and they have enjoyed an upward trajectory ever since.

Having brought in Ryan Lowe as manager and Steven Schumacher as his assistant, the duo led Argyle to promotion in the Covid-19 affected 2019-20 season.

They have progressed steadily ever since, with Schumacher taking over in the autumn of 2021 after Lowe left for Preston North End.

This term the Pilgrims have excelled despite having a budget much lower than many sides around them.

Schumacher's side have used a wonderful home record to build the foundations for a title challenge that has seen them play attractive passing football with wing-backs, and often two number 10's behind a lone striker.

With plans in place to improve the off-field infrastructure, Argyle fans will hope they can stay in a Championship that has changed a lot since the Pilgrims were last in the second tier 13 years ago.

Plymouth Argyle manager Steve Schumacher told BBC Sport:

"I'm overjoyed and delighted. It's been an amazing season, an amazing campaign and to finish it off here on a sunny day in Devon in front of our home fans is just amazing.

"I'm just so proud for everybody associated with the club that we've managed to get over the line.

"We've set out and achieved the goal that we wanted to do and I couldn't be any prouder.

"The standard that's been set at the top end of League One this year has been nothing short of amazing.

"Big congratulations to Ipswich Town who've also sealed their automatic promotion today, they've been brilliant to watch, and commiserations to Darren Moore and Sheffield Wednesday and Michael Duff at Barnsley.

"The relentless pace and the relentless nature that all of the teams have set has just made you work so hard."

Burton Albion manager Dino Maamria:

"I am proud of my players, we put in a performance today and it was really disappointing to concede the goal (with) the last kick of the first half.

"I changed the system as I had two injuries and had to shuffle the pack a little bit.

"If we played this game a few months ago, we probably wouldn't be able to compete, so we have come a long way.

"We beat Sheffield Wednesday and we came to Plymouth, who have the best home record in the division, and it was very close.

"Plymouth have not got a top four budget, they have done brilliantly to compete with the big boys. They have done very well, so congratulations to them."