Ten-Man Plymouth Edge Port Vale as Pepple Brace Proves Decisive

Aribim Pepple’s brace saw ten-man Plymouth Argyle secure a vital 2–1 home victory over Port Vale in League One on Saturday, despite playing almost the entire match a player down.

The hosts made a flying start, taking the lead in the 3rd minute. Pepple finished off an early attack, converting after good work from Lorent Tolaj to make it 1–0 to Plymouth.

League One FINISHED

2026-04-25 14:00

Plymouth Argyle FC

2 - 1

Port Vale FC

Matchday 45 REGULAR_SEASON

Argyle’s afternoon was complicated just two minutes later when goalkeeper Conor Hazard was shown a red card in the 5th minute. Caleb Watts was sacrificed shortly afterwards, with Luca Ashby-Hammond introduced in the 8th minute as Plymouth reshuffled to cope with the dismissal.

Port Vale quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage, drawing level on 14 minutes. Connor Hall struck for the visitors, finishing from a pass by Jordan Shipley to bring the score to 1–1.

The visitors picked up bookings for Ethon Archer on 16 minutes and Hall on 25 minutes, while Plymouth battled to reach the interval on level terms. Detailed information on further first-half chances or saves is not available.

Plymouth struck again moments after the restart. In the 47th minute, Pepple grabbed his second of the afternoon, restoring Argyle’s lead at 2–1 after being set up by Owen Dale. That goal ultimately proved the winner.

Both sides turned to their benches in the second half. Port Vale made a triple sequence of changes, including Liam Gordon for Hall at half-time and later introductions for Grant Ward, Rhys Walters, George Hall and Dajaune Brown. Plymouth responded with substitutions of their own, bringing on Matthew Sorinola and later Brendan Sarpong-Wiredu, who replaced the two-goal Pepple in the 73rd minute.

Dale and Sarpong-Wiredu were booked in the 64th and 82nd minutes respectively as Plymouth dug in to protect their narrow lead. Further detailed match statistics, including shots and possession figures, were not provided.

The result leaves Plymouth celebrating a gritty three points in the closing stages of the League One campaign, while Port Vale are left to reflect on a missed opportunity against ten men.

Full match data: Plymouth Argyle vs Port Vale.

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League One Standings

Season: 2025/26

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Form
1	Lincoln City FC	46	31	10	5	89	41	48	103	W W W D W
2	Cardiff City FC	46	27	10	9	90	50	40	91	L W W W D
3	Stockport County FC	46	22	11	13	71	58	13	77	W L W L D
4	Bradford City AFC	46	22	11	13	58	51	7	77	W D D D L
5	Bolton Wanderers FC	46	19	18	9	70	52	18	75	L D D W L
6	Stevenage FC	46	21	12	13	49	46	3	75	W D W D L
7	Luton Town FC	46	21	11	14	68	56	12	74	W W W D W
8	Plymouth Argyle FC	46	22	7	17	75	63	12	73	W W D W D
9	Huddersfield Town AFC	46	18	13	15	74	64	10	67	W L D D D
10	Mansfield Town FC	46	16	17	13	62	50	12	65	W D W W D
11	Wycombe Wanderers FC	46	17	12	17	69	58	11	63	W L L D L
12	Reading FC	46	16	15	15	64	60	4	63	L D L L L
13	Blackpool FC	46	17	9	20	54	65	-11	60	W W W W L
14	Doncaster Rovers FC	46	17	9	20	50	69	-19	60	W D L W W
15	Barnsley FC	46	15	14	17	68	73	-5	59	L W L L D
16	Wigan Athletic FC	46	14	14	18	49	58	-9	56	L L D W W
17	Burton Albion FC	46	13	15	18	50	60	-10	54	D D D W D
18	Peterborough United FC	46	15	8	23	64	68	-4	53	L D L D L
19	AFC Wimbledon	46	15	8	23	51	72	-21	53	L W L L L
20	Leyton Orient FC	46	14	10	22	59	71	-12	52	D L L D L
21	Exeter City FC	46	12	13	21	52	61	-9	49	L D D D W
22	Port Vale FC	46	10	12	24	36	61	-25	42	L W L L D
23	Rotherham United FC	46	10	11	25	41	71	-30	41	L D L W L
24	Northampton Town FC	46	9	8	29	39	74	-35	35	L L L L L