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Emmanuel Latte Lath's late goal capped off an entertaining fixture at Home Park Middlesbrough came back from a goal down three times to earn a dramatic 3-3 draw at struggling Plymouth Argyle. The Pilgrims looked far from a relegation-threatened side as they dominated the first period and took a deserved lead when Lewis Gibson headed in from close range and had chances to score more. Boro levelled soon after the restart thanks to Jonny Howson's deflected strike before Hayden Hackney missed a great chance to put then 2-1 up. Darko Gyabi got his first-ever senior goal as he blasted in Mustapha Bundu's cross as it looked as though Argyle would end a six-game winless run. But Hackey made amends for his earlier miss when he stabbed in after his initial shot was saved, only for Bundu to make it 3-2 as he converted a cross from the left. Just as it looked as though Argyle would get a first win for six-and-a-half weeks substitute Emmanuel Latte Lath fired in unmarked from close range after a corner was headed back across goal. The draw was made worse for the Pilgrims after wins for relegation rivals Portsmouth and Hull City earlier in the day. Wayne Rooney's side are now bottom of the Championship on goal difference, one point from safety, while Boro remain in sixth place. Lewis Gibson scored for the first time since joining Plymouth Argyle from Everton in the summer of 2023 Argyle, who were already without forwards Muhamed Tijani, Morgan Whittaker and Ibrahim Cissoko through injury, were dealt a further blow which Michael Obafemi was forced off after nine minutes with what appeared to be a knee injury. Youngster Freddie Issaka replaced him and had a weak penalty appeal turned down 10 minutes later as the game got off to a cagey start, before Argyle began to assert their control. The hosts got great joy down their right as Gyabi saw a shot bounce over the Boro bar after a Bundu cross, while Ryan Hardie stabbed a near post effort into the side netting from Bali Mumba's ball in. Argyle had a much stronger penalty appeal turned down 10 minutes from the break as Bundu wriggled towards goal before coming together with George Edmundson. But the deadlock was finally broken when Brendan Galloway crossed from the left after an Argyle corner was not fully cleared and Gibson nodded home to send Home Park into raptures. It could have been 2-0 in first-half stoppage time, but Sol Brynn did well to stop Bundu's close-range effort after Hardie had capitalised on an Edmundson slip. Gyabi went close with an acrobatic effort 28 seconds after the restart but it was Boro who got back into it - Argyle failed to defend a cross and the ball fell to Howson 15 yards out. His right-footed shot was deflected through Hardie's legs to leave home keeper Dan Grimshaw stranded. Mustapha Bundu's goal saw Argyle go into the lead for the third time Argyle then saw Hardie carried off 13 minutes into the second half with a knee injury after racing back to make a last-ditch tackle on Ben Doak as Rooney's attacking fitness worries deepened even further. Hackney missed an excellent chance to put Boro ahead after 64 minutes as he side-footed Tommy Conway's pass wide as Middlesbrough began to take control. But four more goals were to come in the final 20 minutes - as Gyabi converted Bundu's pacey cross from the right byeline to make it 2-1. Five minutes later Hackney levelled - after being released by some intricate play his initial powerful low strike was saved by Grimshaw, but went straight back to the attacker to finish. Home Park erupted four minutes later when Bundu thought he had won it - substitute Nathanael Ogbeta's cross from the left went in off the Sierra Leone forward's knee. But Latte Lath had the final say as he was found unmarked at the back post to fire in the final equaliser - although Boro defender Rav van den Berg almost scored a stoppage time own goal as he blocked Mumba's cross and it flashed past the near post. Plymouth Argyle head coach Wayne Rooney told BBC Radio Devon: "It's frustrating. Reflecting on the game I thought first half we were excellent, both in possession and out of possession. "I thought we got the press right, nullified the way Middlesbrough wanted to play - they're a very good attacking team and very good at taking the ball and playing through the lines. "We were unlucky to go into the break only 1-0 up, and then second half we concede early, Middlesbrough then started getting control of the game a bit. "But we were still creating good chances and good opportunities to score, so I think based on chances alone we probably deserved to win the game. "I'm a little bit disappointed we didn't do better for two of the three goals, I think we were a bit naive in that we had opportunities to clear the ball and we didn't clear it well enough or far enough. " Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick told BBC Radio Tees: "I was pleased with the boys' character and commitment and belief to keep pegging it back second half like we did. "I thought we were the better team second half, but first half we weren't at our best. "You can't concede that many opportunities and goals and expect to win games every week. "[With] the attacking play and opportunities we maybe could have scored more, but we just gave ourselves too much to do really. " Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 21st December 2024 at 17: 16 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Wayne Rooney Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Michael Carrick Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Wayne Rooney Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Michael Carrick Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Championship All competitions All competitions All competitions Plymouth Argyle have lost three of their last nine league games against Middlesbrough (W2 D4), with this exact fixture last season finishing 3-3. Middlesbrough are unbeaten across their last eight away league games against Plymouth Argyle (W4 D4), since a 1-0 loss back in October 1964. Plymouth have lost each of their last four league games, conceding 14 goals in total during that time. Not since March 2021 have the Pilgrims endured a longer losing run in the same season (five games). Middlesbrough have scored 19 goals in total across their away games in the Championship so far this season – the most of any side in the competition. Middlesbrough’s Finn Azaz has recorded 14 goal contributions in the Championship this season (6 goals, 8 assists), with only Norwich’s Borja Sainz managing more (15 goals, 2 assists). Azaz is one of only two players to record both 5+ goals and assists in the competition, alongside Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer. Match ends, Plymouth Argyle 3, Middlesbrough 3. Second Half ends, Plymouth Argyle 3, Middlesbrough 3. Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Rav van den Berg. Ben Doak (Middlesbrough) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Foul by Ben Doak (Middlesbrough). Darko Gyabi (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough). Lewis Gibson (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough). Nathanael Ogbeta (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick on the left wing. Attempt missed. Mustapha Bundu (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Rami Al Hajj. Fourth official has announced 9 minutes of added time. Attempt blocked. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Emmanuel Latte Lath. Corner, Middlesbrough. Conceded by Kornél Szucs. Darko Gyabi (Plymouth Argyle) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough) wins a free kick in the attacking half. Foul by Darko Gyabi (Plymouth Argyle). Attempt saved. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Alex Gilbert. Substitution, Middlesbrough. Alex Gilbert replaces Finn Azaz. Goal! Plymouth Argyle 3, Middlesbrough 3. Emmanuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner following a corner. © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.