Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Bradford City: FLW reports as Pilgrims beat below-par Bantams

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Football League World

·29 August 2026

Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Bradford City: FLW reports as Pilgrims beat below-par Bantams

League One action from Home Park as Plymouth Argyle hosted Bradford City.

Graham Alexander's 600th game as a manager ended in disappointment as his Bradford City were defeated 2-0 at Home Park by Plymouth Argyle.

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The first-half was largely controlled by Argyle, who went close to taking the lead through Tyreeq Bakinson inside five minutes. Bim Pepple and Alex Mitchell also saw big chances fall just wide.

However, the Pilgrims would get their goal moments before half-time via an unlikely source in Julio Pleguezuelo. The defender's first-time shot from a cross that Aden Baldwin failed to clear beat Jon McCracken in the City net.

Harvey White netted his first Plymouth goal five minutes after half-time to double his side's advantage with a low-drilled strike from 25 yards out.

Argyle saw out the rest of the second half comfortably to collect their first league win of the season, ending Bradford's 100% start to the new campaign.

Plymouth Argyle 2—0 Bradford City

The first chance of the game fell to Argyle five minutes in. Oli Irow's cross found Wes Harding at the edge of the box, who laid off the ball nicely for Bakinson to drive one narrowly wide from 18 yards out.

Five minutes later, Bradford had their first sniff at goal. Kayden Jackson's cross was met by the head of Matthew Pennington inside the box, but his header looped over the bar.

Harding was involved again for the Pilgrims in the 15th minute, teeing up Pepple with an excellent cross to the back post which the Canadian headed high and wide.

Mitchell was the next to head over the bar two minutes later. Another delightful ball into the box, this time from Ronan Curtis, was headed well over by the defender.

Plymouth missed another golden opportunity to take the lead after 25 minutes when Will Evans blasted over the bar from 10 yards out from a corner.

Bradford almost punished a mix up from Alex Hartridge and Mitchell 10 minutes from half-time, which sent Will Swan one-on-one with Cooper, but the striker rolled his effort wide of the far post.

On the stroke of half-time, Argyle finally got their deserved lead. Irow's cross was headed into the path of Pleguezuelo by Baldwin, and the defender struck home with a first time effort from inside the box.

The first half ended with Tom Cleverley's side heading into the break in front, and deservingly so, as they had been on top for the vast majority of the match thus far.

The second half got off to the perfect start for Argyle, as White doubled their advantage within five minutes of play resuming. The midfielder's low driven strike from 25 yards out finding the bottom corner of the Bradford net.

Curtis could've added a third three minutes later when he cut inside and curled a left-footed effort from distance which McCracken had to punch behind for a corner.

Argyle should've had a penalty on the hour mark after Baldwin wiped out Evans in the box. However, referee Carl Brook awarded a corner instead, much to the disgust of the home fans and players.

The wind had a real impact on the game, with strong headwinds towards Cooper's goal making long kicks directionless. However, the hosts took it in their stride, as they remained comfortable with their 2-0 advantage.

After three minutes of stoppage time, referee Brook brought what was a quiet second half to a close, and Argyle collected their first league win of the season, ending Bradford's 100% start to the new campaign.