Sky Bet League One leaders Portsmouth had to settle for a point in a goalless draw at struggling Exeter.
Despite creating chances, including attempts from Jack Sparkes and Dion Rankine, Portsmouth couldn’t find the back of the net.
Exeter’s Ilmari Niskanen had a close effort, hitting the post, while both goalkeepers, Vili Sinisalo for Exeter and Will Norris for Portsmouth, made crucial saves.
The draw added to Portsmouth’s recent run of disappointing results during the festive period.
Ryan Hardie came off the bench to score twice and send Plymouth four points clear at the top of League One following a thrilling 4-2 comeback win over Devon rivals Exeter at a rain-soaked Home Park.
Hardie fired into the roof of the net on the turn in the 70th minute after collecting Morgan Whittaker’s incisive pass into the penalty area.
And the Scottish striker latched onto another through ball from Whittaker to slot home a killer fourth after 84 minutes to clinch Argyle’s ninth successive home league win.
Exeter opened the scoring when Jay Stansfield shrugged off Bali Mumba’s challenge on the left flank to tee up Archie Collins for a far-post tap-in after 26 minutes.
Argyle hit back immediately as Whittaker spun on Adam Randell’s inch-perfect ball into the box to fire past goalkeeper Jamal Blackman.
Stansfield again split the Argyle defence to put Sam Nombe in on goal and he rounded Michael Cooper to put the Grecians 2-1 ahead in the 52nd minute.
City celebrations were again short-lived, though, as Mumba met a clearance from a corner with a thumping 25-yard strike off the slick surface and into the corner, with Hardie going on to steal the show.
Source: Livescore
A problem in top-flight English rugby has been exacerbated by the Wasps rugby club’s announcement that it is set to “enter administration in the coming days.”
The club made the announcement that it would not play in this Saturday’s Premiership game against Exeter.
Its statement said: “It has become clear that there is likely to be insufficient time to find a solvent solution for the companies within the group, and it is therefore likely that they will enter into administration in the coming days with a view to concluding deals shortly thereafter.
“In light of the current situation, we have therefore taken the decision to withdraw the Wasps men’s team from this Saturday’s league fixture against Exeter Chiefs.”
It marks a low for the domestic game as rivals Worcester are already in administration and face relegation next season after being suspended from the Premiership for the rest of the league campaign.
Wasps, which lost to Northampton Saints in a Premiership match on Sunday, has been pushed to the brink of financial ruin by a debt pile that includes an unpaid tax bill.
The club’s parent company, Wasps Holdings, filed a notice of intention to appoint FRP Advisory, a restructuring firm, as administrator on 21 September. This was followed by a second such notice last week.
They gave the club ten days of breathing space from creditors as it sought to find a way through its financial troubles.
The statement by Wasps suggested there was hope that a new buyer would take over once the club entered administration.
Sky News revealed at the weekend that David Armstrong, a former Wasps chief executive, was working with investment firm Terminum Capital on a bid to buy the club and its stadium.
Exhibitions group NEC later lodged a bid for the Coventry Building Society Arena, the stadium the club shares with Coventry City FC, though Sky News understood that its interest did not extend to the club itself.
Wasps was founded in 1867 in Hampstead, north London, but its journey away from London and the southeast to Coventry has not proved successful.
The move 80 miles north of its last home, in High Wycombe, alienated the fan base and its subsequent financial struggles prompted an exodus of valuable players this year.
Charlton halted an eight-game winless run in League One in emphatic style as they defeated Exeter 4-2 at The Valley.
The Addicks took the lead in the 20th minute, Miles Leaburn latching on to George Dobson’s ball over the top of the Exeter defence and slamming a right-footed shot past Jamal Blackman from inside the area.
Just four minutes later the home team extended their lead. Jayden Stockley got some contact on Scott Fraser’s cross but it needed a hefty deflection off Exeter defender Alex Hartridge to wrong-foot Blackman.
The visitors cut the deficit with a superb finish from Jay Stansfield. The Fulham loanee thrashed a 20-yard half-volley home in the 37th minute.
Jack Sparkes nearly produced another blockbuster for Exeter but his 74th-minute thunderbolt crashed down off the bar.
Chuks Aneke had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he netted after Dobson’s shot was only partially blocked.
Fellow substitute Jack Payne produced a bullet header from Corey Blackett-Taylor’s cross to make it 4-1 to Charlton. City striker Sam Nombe slotted in from the spot after being barged over by Aneke in the fifth minute of added time.
Source: Livescore