PLYMOUTH Argyle will be without central-defensive talisman Darren Purse for the next three games following his injury-time red card last Saturday.

Purse's absence could signal the return of Curtis Nelson at the heart of defence.

Nelson has found it tough adjusting to life in the bottom tier, but impressed during Argyle's League One campaign last season.

He is likely to line up alongside Maxime Blanchard when the Pilgrims travel to Bristol Rovers on Boxing Day. Another defender available for Greens' player-manager Carl Fletcher is left-back Onismor Bhasera following his one-match suspension for a red card picked up at Bradford City.

The Boxing Day derby fixture at the Memorial Stadium is usually an entertaining affair. Both Argyle and Bristol Rovers were relegated last season and the Pilgrims prevailed last time out with an awe-inspiring 3-2 victory after trailing 0-2 at half-time.

Monday's game will give Argyle the chance to extend their current unbeaten run to four games after a gritty 1-1 draw last Saturday at Home Park against Hereford United.

Like Plymouth, Hereford are also flirting with relegation at the moment and, just like Argyle's two previous fixtures against Northampton and Bradford, this one was being billed as another six-pointer. Fletcher made just the one enforced change, bringing in Robbie Williams at left-back at the expense of the suspended Bhasera.

Williams was keen to prove his worth to the boss and struck a couple of long-range efforts towards the Hereford goal.

The first real chance came for the home side just before the 20 minute-mark. Pacey winger Ashley Hemmings created a crossing opportunity from the left and picked out birthday boy Craig Sutherland – the striker rose well but steered his header just wide. Shortly afterwards it was Argyle's turn to defend and goalkeeper Jake Cole did well to tip over Steven Leslie's free-kick for a corner.

Hemmings was proving a tricky customer for the Bulls' defence and another dangerous cross found Nick Chadwick in the box. The striker's volley was well saved by Hereford 'keeper Adam Bartlett and Chadwick was unable to follow up the rebound.

In a game, which was beginning to evade the midfield, with plenty of aerial football, the away side were next to threaten with an acrobatic David Platt-esque flying scissor kick from Yoann Arquin, which whistled just past Cole's right-hand post.

The Pilgrims came within a whisker of taking a lead into the break just before half-time when Purse's towering header came back off the crossbar only to be cleared by the Bull's defence.

Early in the second half Argyle rattled the woodwork again, but it was their own crossbar still shaking after Durrell Berry had mis-kicked his attempted clearance to almost gift Hereford the lead.

Home Park let out a huge sigh of relief as did the slightly embarrassed Berry.

Just a minute later the Greens were threatening at the right area of the pitch with Chadwick forcing a good save from Bartlett to win a corner. Chadwick got his head to the resulting set-piece, but Bartlett punched well to clear the danger.

Warren Feeney replaced Sutherland just shy of the hour mark and was bundled over on the edge of the box by Hereford defender Michael Townsend. The Green Army were calling for Townsend to be sent off but referee James Linington decided a yellow card was appropriate.

The travelling side then took the lead with a well-worked goal. A neat passing move allowed Harry Pell to get round the back of the Argyle defence and his cut-back was arrowed into the bottom left of the net by Thomas Barkhuizen.

Greens' captain Simon Walton was replaced by Luke Young in the heart of midfield and the home side dug deep in the search for an equaliser.

On the 80-minute mark, Feeney nipped in front a hesitant Nicky Featherstone and was upended in the box.

The referee awarded the penalty but with resident spot-kick taker Walton off the field, Chadwick was assigned the task to finding the net from 12 yards.

The striker swept in the penalty to Bartlett's right to level the scores.

With the wind in their sails the Pilgrims swept forward in their search for a late winner and Hereford were reduced to 10 men when Townsend fouled Hemmings as he sped towards goal.

Chadwick and Feeney both had chances to seal the three points, but Bartlett stood his ground well to earn a point for his side.

In the dying stages of the game Purse lunged in on Bull's substitute Nathan Elder and was given his marching orders after the referee brandished a straight red card.

The match ended 1-1 to take the Pilgrims unbeaten run to three games.

After the game Fletcher did consider appealing Purse's dismissal but has decided against it, leaving his star defender with a three-match suspension.

He will now miss the games against Bristol Rovers and Aldershot Town away and the Devon derby clash against Torquay United at Home Park on January 2.