PLYMOUTH ARGYLE lost striker Ryan Hardie to injury after a horror clash of heads with Rotherham defender Daniel Ayala.

His replacement Mustapha Bundu then had to be wheeled off on a stretcher moments later after being crunched by Hakeem Odoffin following his first touch.

The struggling Millers made the long trip down to Devon hoping to close the gap to their opponents in the Championship table down to seven points.

Leam Richardson’s side got off to a good start and took the lead via Jamie Lindsay on 16 minutes.

Argyle’s afternoon then went from bad to worse when they lost top scorer Hardie after a nasty accidental clash of heads with Ayala.

Both players received lengthy treatment, with the forward coming out the worse for wear.

Ayala, 33, was able to continue.

But Hardie, 26, had to be very carefully helped off the field by medical staff on 36 minutes.

Argyle boss Steven Schumacher turned to back-up striker Mustapha Bundu, bringing on the Sierra Leone ace for Hardie.

His outing was cruelly cut short barely after it had gotten going, when he was scythed down by Odoffin immediately after his first touch.