Team news

Mariner to drop anchor with same side Plymouth head coach Paul Mariner may choose to keep faith with a winning line-up when his side play host to Middlesbrough.

Argyle came from behind to boost their survival hopes with a 2-1 victory at Doncaster on Saturday and Mariner is unlikely to make many changes.

Skipper Carl Fletcher will hope to return after missing the clash at the Keepmoat Stadium with a knee injury.

Craig Noone remains doubtful with a knee problem of his own, but Chris Barker returned to the bench at the weekend following a spell on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Kari Arnason (hip), Krisztian Timar and Luke Summerfield (both hamstring) look set to remain sidelined with their respective injuries.

Argyle will also be without David McNamee, who is also nursing a hamstring problem, and Richard Eckersley (ankle).

Middlesbrough boss Gordon Strachan could be without a long list of players.

Andrew Taylor was forced off after 42 minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.

Strachan admitted that Gary O'Neil and Rhys Williams were also struggling and he may be forced into calling up players from the youth team.

Emanuel Pogatetz's (knee) availability remains unclear, but Jeremie Aliadiere (broken toe), Willo Flood (knee), Seb Hines (ankle and medial ligament), Tony McMahon (stress fracture of the foot) and Matthew Bates (cruciate ligament) are all out.

But there was at least some positive news for Strachan as Scott McDonald made a goalscoring return to action at the weekend following his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Plymouth 0-2 Middlesbrough

Last modified 18:03 05/04/10

Paul Mariner refused to give up hope Plymouth Argyle can escape relegation despite drifting four points from safety.

Alan Judge missed a first half penalty for Argyle who were sunk by Stephen McManus's 23rd minute header and Jonathan Franks' injury-time strike into an empty net after goalkeeper David Stockdale was left stranded by going up for a corner.

But Argyle boss Mariner does not consider it a lost cause just yet and expects to have key players back for Saturday's crunch game at relegation rivals Watford, who are one place above the drop zone and four points ahead of the Devon side.

He said: "It's what we have to do and not others that we have to worry about. We can't look at what other teams are doing.

"I still firmly believe there are some twists and turns in this league to come and it may go to the wire on the last day of the season.

"If there's anything bigger than a six-pointer then our game at Watford is it. We will get players back from that game, hopefully Carl Fletcher will be fit again, and I can't fault the players.

"I'm so proud of the players. They are beside themselves at the moment but their heads never went down after the first goal."

Boro boss Gordon Strachan admits he is unsure whether Gary O'Neil will play again this season - since it would cost the club £1million - after leaving him out yesterday.

O'Neil made the long trip to Devon but was not included in the squad because Boro would have had to pay a £1million additional fee to cash-strapped Portsmouth had the midfielder played his 100th game for the club yesterday.

O'Neil signed for for £4million from Pompey in 2007 but may have played his last game of the campaign as Boro wait to see if he will be around next season before stumping up another £1million.

Strachan said: "The football and the financial sides will get together and make the best decisions for the club. Circumstances will determine whether he plays again this season."

Argyle had their chances to ease their troubles, but they did not take them. Bradley Wright-Phillips had a 11th-minute volley deflected over and hit another effort too close to Jones later in the first half.

Jamie Mackie had a penalty appeal waved away when he claimed Boro centre-back David Wheater had handled his seventh-minute shot, but when Argyle did get a spot kick they failed to convert it.

Judge's 41st-minute shot was judged to have hit Justin Hoyte's hand but the Argyle midfielder's penalty allowed Jones to make a diving block.

Boro were not so wasteful. Barry Robson had already clipped the outside of the post with a 16th-minute free-kick when he delivered another free-kick that McManus headed in at the near post on 23 minutes.

Reda Johnson headed over late on for Argyle who were caught on the counter attack when Stockdale was caught off his line after going up for an injury time corner.

When the ball was cleared Robson found substitute Franks, who found the empty net from 25 yards.