A late penalty from Jason Scotland ensured that Swansea moved back into the play-off positions.
Late penalty sees off Plymouth
Jason Scotland scored a late penalty to see off a battling Plymouth side and move Swansea back into the play-off places.
The home side dominated for much of the contest but did not find a breakthrough until Scotland scored from the spot in the 78th minute following Romain Larrieu's foul on Jordi Gomez.
Swansea were buoyed by the return of midfielder Darren Pratley, one of three changes from the side that drew with Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Plymouth were also forced into two changes as Craig Cathcart and Paul Gallagher missed out.
It was the visitors who started brighter, going close early on as Ashley Barnes forced keeper Dorus De Vries into a reaction save with a snap shot from inside the area.
De Vries clawed the effort behind, and from the resulting corner Gary Sawyer headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
Close
Swansea took until the quarter hour to fashion their first opening, Leon Britton firing in a sharp effort from point-blank range that defender Karl Duguid superbly blocked.
Carl Fletcher also came close to snatching the lead for Plymouth when he hit a dipping shot from distance that was well held by De Vries.
Swansea hit back, coming within inches of going ahead moments later when Gomez drew a foul from Duguid on the edge of the area and then rattled the bar with the resulting free-kick.
Powerful striker Scotland muscled in a shot that Larrieu did well to repel. But just as the home side were looking comfortable Craig Noone curled in a delicate left-footed effort that was saved well by De Vries
Gomez and Angel Rangel both wasted inviting opportunities before half-time as Larrieu kept out a pair of long-range efforts to send the visitors in on level terms.
The Swans began the second half much in the same manner they ended the first, with Alan Tate calling Larrieu again into action to keep out a vicious 20-yarder.
Scotland scuffed a shot from the edge of the area horribly wide shortly afterwards as the home side began to pile on the pressure.
Favourites
Martinez's side were looking clear favourites and Gomez again produced a piece of brilliance from a dead-ball situation only for Larrieu to somehow tip over his superb 20-yard free-kick.
It appeared a matter of time as Gomez then cracked an effort just wide following Thomas Butler's corner and Pratley also could have broken the deadlock had he not fired straight at Larrieu from 25 yards.
Gomez failed to hit the target as he wastefully smashed a shot over from the edge of the area. But the Spaniard had a huge hand in the winner just moments later as he was fouled by Larrieu inside the area.
Scotland duly stepped up and smashed his 18th goal of the season past the despairing keeper.
Despite a hectic finish Plymouth failed to threaten in the closing stages, indeed they were lucky not to fall further behind when Gomez twice spurned clear-cut chances to put the game to bed.
