This was worse than 1991 - John Lyall's first season in charge - when they were 34th taking into account numbers in the then First and Second Division compared to the Premiership and Championship today.

In Lyall's second season he lifted them into the inaugural Premier League as champions of the old First Division.

Team Talk

Evans ends Plymouth career on perfect note

Micky Evans ended his Plymouth career on a perfect note by netting the winning goal - his first in 37 matches.

The 33-year-old striker is being released after five years at Home Park and his 58th-minute header finally brought a halt to a depressing run in front of goal that had stretched back to last September.

Plymouth had gone behind early when Ipswich forward Nicky Forster maintained his record of scoring in every first-team match since returning from injury.

Knee surgery sidelined Forster for three-and-a-half months until his comeback at Easter but he has now made it four goals in as many matches following his recall.

However, Tony Capaldi levelled the scores as Plymouth finished the opening half of this Coca-Cola Championship match the stronger.

Plymouth had the first two goal attempts but they were both off target, whereas Ipswich looked dangerous from their initial attack.

Forster drew a fine save from goalkeeper Romain Larrieu with a long-range shot only a minute before he opened the scoring. Young right-back Chris Casement, playing only his fifth senior match, supplied the cross for the former Birmingham and Reading striker to head home in the 12th minute.

Vincent Pericard, on loan from Portsmouth, fired over twice before Capaldi equalised in the 28th minute with his first goal since December. Evans headed the ball down and the Northern Ireland international converted from close range.

That encouraged the Pilgrims and both men involved in the goal tested Shane Supple within the following 10 minutes, while Lilian Nalis became the first player booked for a foul on Ipswich midfielder Ian Westlake.

After the break Evans missed a fine chance when he headed an Akos Buzsaky free-kick over the crossbar but made amends when he put Tony Pulis' side ahead in the 57th minute. Casement conceded a free-kick by fouling Capaldi, who took the set-piece himself and after Pericard had headed the ball on, Evans provided the final touch.

Evans and Capaldi continued to be Plymouth's chief threats until the veteran striker was one of three players substituted by Pulis with 13 minutes remaining, Buzsaky and Pericard the others.Evans and Capaldi continued to be Plymouth's chief threats until the veteran striker was one of three players substituted by Pulis with 13 minutes remaining, Buzsaky and Pericard the others.

The closing stages were comfortable for Plymouth as Ipswich manager Joe Royle gave a run-out to some of his fringe players - and it was Evans who was hero of the day.

Sporting Life