Team news

Johnson boost for Pilgrims Injury-hit Plymouth are set to be boosted by the timely return of central defender Reda Johnson for the Championship clash at home to Bristol City.

The Benin international has recovered from the groin injury which has ruled him out for three matches since the 4-2 defeat at Sheffield United at the end of February.

With on-loan Burnley full-back Richard Eckersley (groin) set to miss out and centre-back Kari Arnason (calf) a doubt, Johnson's return will be a welcome boost to head coach Paul Mariner.

Defender Gary Sawyer, who replaced Eckersley at left-back after 57 minutes of Saturday's 1-1 draw at Coventry, is expected to recover from a shin injury.

But winger Craig Noone (ankle/shin) remains an injury doubt after missing Saturday's draw and last Tuesday's 2-0 defeat at QPR.

Bristol City boss Gary Johnson will shuffle his pack after on-loan striker Chris Iwelumo returned to parent club Wolves.

Johnson had looked to extend the 31-year-old's stay at Ashton Gate following his final appearance in Saturday's defeat to Reading but after talks between the club, it was decided the player would return to Molineux.

Johnson has also been linked with a loan move for Wolves striker Stefan Maierhofer but whether something happens in time remains to be seen.

That means Danny Haynes - who replaced Iwelumo as a 46th-minute substitute on Saturday - could come into the starting XI while John Akinde is also staking a claim.

Defender Liam Fontaine was brought off as a precaution after he picked up a knock, although he should continue despite Jamie McAllister's return to fitness.

Evander Sno, Jamie McCombe and Marvin Elliot remain long-term absentees.

Plymouth 3-2 Bristol City

Last modified 15:39 17/03/10

Fletcher rocks Robins Carl Fletcher netted a late winner as struggling Plymouth claimed only their fifth home league victory of the season with a 3-2 success over 10-man Bristol City.

The Pilgrims looked on course for a straightforward three points when Chris Clark netted his first league goal for the club before Bradley Wright-Phillips doubled the advantage before the break.

Nicky Maynard grabbed his first goals of 2010 to level matters, but Plymouth had the final say as Fletcher fired home a right-footed shot from 20 yards in the final minute.

The result moves Plymouth, who last won a home match against the Robins six years ago, to within four points of third-bottom Scunthorpe, who travel to leaders Newcastle on Wednesday.

The first chance of the game fell to Maynard after just seven minutes, but the striker, who had scored just one goal in his previous 20 appearances, shot wide.

His last goal had come in the 2-1 defeat at QPR in December, a strike that recently saw him pick up the Mitre Goal of the Year award, but he ended his barren run with two second-half goals.

At the other end, Wright-Phillips saw his effort blocked by Louis Carey, who was making his 600th club appearance for the Robins.

On-loan goalkeeper David Stockdale then came to Plymouth's rescue to deny Cole Skuse with an excellent parry. Debutant Stefan Maierhofer, who this week joined on loan from Wolves, was on hand to tap home the rebound but his effort was ruled out for offside.

But it was Plymouth, who had the worst home record in the Championship prior to kick-off, who opened the scoring with a rare goal from Clark shortly after the half-hour mark.

Clark latched onto a cross from Chris Barker before firing home a sweetly-struck volley at the back post for his first goal of the season.

The Pilgrims could have doubled their lead six minutes before the break but Jamie Mackie's effort was parried by Dean Gerken, who comfortably gathered the ball at the second attempt.

Paul Mariner's men increased their advantage on the stroke of half-time as City failed to deal with a long throw-in from Kari Arnason, leaving Wright-Phillips to score his first goal for the club with a spectacular overhead kick.

City got themselves back into the game within 13 minutes of the restart as Maynard scored from a quickly worked free-kick, and the Robins would have been level soon after had Stockdale not parried away Jamie McAllister's effort.

The Robins finally drew level when Maynard sent a right-footed shot beyond Stockdale 12 minutes from time and the striker almost completed his hat-trick soon after, only to see his header sail just wide.