The Pilgrims’ 3-0 victory was just their fourth home League One win out of 12 games this season
17:18, 04 Jan 2026Updated 17:27, 04 Jan 2026
Goal celebrations for Argyle defender Brendan Galloway during the League One game against Burton Albion at Home Park on January 4, 2026 – Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Plymouth Argyle cruised to a convincing 3-0 victory over Burton Albion at Home Park as they moved out of the bottom four in League One.
It was just the Pilgrims’ fourth home league win of their difficult 2025/26 campaign and it was a much-needed one against opposition who started the day above them in the table on goal difference.
Brendan Galloway made his first start for Argyle since returning from playing for Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup of Nations and, playing at left-back, he opened the scoring with a well-struck shot after a corner in the 21st minute.
The Pilgrims were dominant throughout against a Burton side who posed very little attacking threat, and Tom Cleverley’s team extended their lead in the 63rd minute with a close range finish from substitute Mathias Ross.
Argyle’s third goal came in the 77th minute and was a penalty from Lorent Tolaj after Galloway had been fouled and it was all-too-easy for them after that.
While Burton were very poor to say the least, it was still a very important three points for Argyle, who moved up to 16th position in the table.
Argyle’s starting line-up showed three changes from the 1-1 New Year’s Day draw away to Stevenage with Xavier Amaechi, Brendan Galloway and Julio Pleguezuelo all returning to the team.
Amaechi was in a wide right attacking role in the Pilgrims’ 4-4-2 formation, with Malachi Boateng, who scored the equaliser at Stevenage, moving back into a central midfield position alongside Joe Ralls as Brendan Wiredu dropped down to the bench.
Galloway lined-up at left-back instead of Matty Sorinola and Pleguezuelo was in central defence with Alex Mitchell, while captain Joe Edwards continued at right-back.
The Argyle attack was led by Tolaj, who scored twice in the 4-0 away win against Burton in late September, and Bim Pepple, who also scored in that game.
Ross also dropped down to the bench for the Pilgrims’ first home match of 2026, while Jamie Paterson was named among the substitutes as he returned from injury.
Not included in the matchday squad were the likes of Ayman Benarous, Law McCabe, the loan signing from Championship club Middlesbrough, Caleb Roberts and Kornel Szucs.
On a very cold January afternoon, Argyle almost opened the scoring 51 seconds after the kick-off. Mitchell played the ball over the Burton defence for Tolaj to run onto and he lobbed it past goalkeeper Bradley Collins only for it to hit the crossbar.
Amechi was first to the loose ball and played it back inside towards the six-yard area but it was cut out as Brewers conceded a corner.
There was another early chance for Tolaj to break clear, this time down the Argyle left, and his low cross found Pepple but the striker was unable to get a shot away as he was crowded out.
It was an encouraging start from the home side and Tolaj had another opportunity when he received a pass from Amaechi and broke forward before sending a left-foot shot slicing wide from 20 yards out.
Mitchell had a header from an outswinging Ralls corner deflected wide off Terence Vancooten but Argyle did take the lead from the resulting set piece in the 21st minute.
Ralls hit the ball towards the near post area and Galloway scored with a superb left foot finish for his first goal of the season.
Moments later, Mumba had a shot blocked inside the Burton box and when Pepple went to challenge for the ball in the air there was a very nasty clash of heads with defender Alex Hartridge.
People was eventually able to get to his feet and jog off the pitch after receiving medical attention but Hartridge, who had a bandage placed around his head, could not continue and was replaced by Nick Akoto.
Argyle striker Lorent Tolaj battles for the ball with Burton Albion’s Jack Armer during the League One game at Home Park on January 4, 2026 – Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Argyle could not maintain the attacking momentum they had after that lengthy delay as both sides struggled to create any scoring chances during a lull in the action.
However, the Pilgrims almost extended their lead in the 43rd minute when Tolaj set up Amaechi for a first-time strike just outside the Burton box and Collins made an excellent diving save to push it wide for a corner.
There was then a big let-off for Argyle goalkeeper Conor Hazard when he received a back pass he over-hit his first touch as he gifted the ball to Fabio Tavares.
Fortunately for the Pilgrims that mistake was not punished as Tavares had his shot blocked by a no doubt very relieved Hazard, who held up his hand in acknowledgement of his error.
It remained 1-0 to Argyle until the interval after a first half in which they had been largely dominant but had only the one goal to show for that.
Burton threatened to get an equaliser in the opening moments of the second period when Tavares set up Kegs Chauke inside the Argyle box but the Brewers’ captain had his fierce strike brilliantly blocked by Mitchell.
There was then a goalmouth scramble in the Burton 18-yard area after a corner from Ralls and Pepple tried to backheel the ball towards the net but could not find a way through.
Soon afterwards, People did well to get to the by-line and play the ball back to Tolaj, whose left-foot shot was dragged just wide of the far post.
Burton midfielder George Evans fired wide with one shot for the away side before Dylan Williams had a powerful strike safely held onto by Hazard.
There was a double substitution for Argyle on the hour mark as Caleb Watts and Ross were sent on for Pepple and Pleguezuelo, who limped off the pitch after receiving attention from physio Gareth Law.
Ross soon made a very positive impact for the Pilgrims by putting them 2-0 up in the 63rd minute.
Following a short corner, the ball was played back to Ralls, whose cross was aimed towards Tolaj at the far post. The Argyle striker was pulled back by a Burton opponent as he tried to apply a finish but the ball went inside to Ross and he slotted high into the net.
Mitchell made an important clearance of the ball for Argyle over his own crossbar after a cross into the penalty area before the hosts made another couple of changes in the 72nd minute with Amaechi and Ralls making way for Sorinola and Wiredu.
Argyle then went further ahead in the 77th minute after a well-taken penalty from Tolaj for his 14th goal for the club, and 15th in total including one for Port Vale at the start of the season.
The spot kick was awarded when Sorinola floated a free-kick into the Burton penalty area and referee Ollie Yates decided that Galloway had been bundled over by Kyran Lofthouse.
Tegan Finn was Argyle’s fifth and final substitute when Mitchell picked up a knock and left the action, with Galloway moving inside to central defence alongside Ross while Sorinola took over at left-back.
Boateng had a shot deflected behind a corner as the Pilgrims looked to further add to their tally and a header from Wiredu then lacked the power to trouble Collins, who caught the ball with ease.
Burton boss Gary Bowyer made a quadruple substitution in the 90th minute sending on some of his squad’s young players for the closing stages of a game which won Argyle very comfortably indeed.
ARGYLE: Conor Hazard; Joe Edwards, Julio Pleguezuelo (Mathias Ross 60 mins), Alex Mitchell (Tegan Finn 83 mins), Brendan Galloway; Xavier Amaechi (Matty Sorinola 72 mins), Malachi Boateng, Joe Ralls (Brendan Wiredu 72 mins), Bali Mumba; Lorent Tolaj, Bim Pepple (Caleb Watts 60 mins).
Substitutes (not used): Luca Ashby-Hammond, Jamie Paterson.
BURTON: Bradley Collins; Terence Vancooten, Toby Sibbick, Alex Hartridge (Nick Akoto 28 mins); Kyran Lofthouse, Kegs Chauke, George Evans (Jack Newall 90 mins), Jack Armer; Julian Larsson (Josh Taroni 90 mins); Dylan Williams (Sulyman Krubally 90 mins), Fabio Tavares (Zac Scutt 90 mins)
Substitutes (not used): Kamil Dudek, Jamal Williamson.
REFEREE: Ollie Yates
ATTENDANCE: 14,662 (257)
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