CHRIS Eagles received his marching orders with seven minutes to go, forcing Burnley to see the game out after dominating possession beforehand.

The former Manchester United midfielder had been controversially booked earlier in the second half for what seemed a fair challenge on Jason Puncheon.

But referee Mike Oliver had no hesitation in producing a straight red after being flagged over by his assistant in the 84th minute.

But Burnley had created enough chances to put the game to bed before being reduced to 10 men.

Steven Caldwell twice missed the target in the first half from set pieces, Eagles brought a good save from Graham Stack, as did Chris McCann on the volley, in what was the midfielder's 100th league game for the Clarets.

Plymouth offered more in attack after the break but Russell Anderson, making his debut after completing a season long loan from Sunderland, made an excellent challenge on Steven MacLean inside the box at the end of one of Argyle's brightest moves.

Joey Gudjonsson might have snatched it for the 10-man Clarets in stoppage time, but his vicious free kick clipped the top of the wall, and McCann headed wide from the corner.