The U’s had lost only one of their 11 league games following promotion but they were beaten 3-2 by Cleverley’s side, who had lost their previous two matches without scoring.

Bim Pepple’s penalty proved decisive as Cambridge hit back from 2-0 and 3-1 down but were ultimately unable to force an equaliser.

“The players were there to be counted today,” Cleverley said. “The character they showed, the quality when we were on top, it was a real Argyle performance in my opinion.

“First and foremost it was one of those afternoons you’d have taken the result over anything. But to get the performance and the fight and the application along with that was pleasing.

“It’s promising that we can bounce back from a tough week and I’m really thrilled with the performance.

“It was nice to have a fairly quiet first 20 minutes where we looked solid, and then we grew into the game from there. We got on top just before half-time and got the goal.

“If I’m critical of the players, they didn’t manage those moments at two goals up well enough. Really poor goals to concede and we made it difficult in the last minutes. They threw they kitchen sink at us.”

Plymouth went in front four minutes before half-time courtesy of a Louis Appere own goal and that lead was doubled five minutes after the break through Harvey White.

Cambridge got one back seven minutes later from Sulay Kaikai but Pepple’s penalty made it 3-1, with Shane Lavery’s reply coming too late for the U’s.

Neil Harris was frustrated by the manner of the goals conceded by his Cambridge side.

Despite losing for only the second time this season the U’s have kept just one clean sheet while this was the first time they had conceded three in a league game since August 2025.

“We scored two goals at home. We’ve had 20 shots, eight on target, and we’ve got beat,” said the Cambridge boss.

“It’s embarrassing. I can’t just watch us keep conceding goals, we have to be better. The goals we gave away today, we’re killing (goalkeeper) Jake Eastwood.

“He was excellent today. He concedes a penalty because he has to come off his line. He’s let three goals in, the poor lad.

“I’m really disappointed in that. There’s loads of positives we can talk about but ultimately we shot ourselves in the foot and we have to be better than that.

“The moment before half-time doesn’t help us. The second goal five minutes into the second half, that doesn’t help us. Then we score, we’re in the ascendancy, we’re miles on top, and we concede again. So three disappointing goals obviously, and it’s the timing of the goals as well.

“We talk about the manner of the goals, we gave the goals away cheaply, then the timing of the goals was really poor.”