A season can turn on the unlikeliest event and manager Micky Adams will be hoping his slice of bad luck turned good fortune could be the catalyst for happier times at Coventry City.
Coventry were on the cusp of defeat when Adams' hand was forced. The Sky Blues were playing very poorly in a dire match which only served to underline the paucity of real talent in the division, when three players suffered injury within a couple of minutes.
Adams and his backroom staff took their time to decide what to do when Matt Heath went down with a nasty back injury and while they deliberated, David Norris scored a sweetly taken goal.
The murmurs of discontent were beginning to gather force around the Ricoh when Adams brought on Richard Shaw for the stricken Heath, while Don Hutchison and Andy Impey replaced James Scowcroft and Marcus Hall.
The change may have been one of necessity but it was a truly pivotal moment and from then on Coventry grasped the initiative, moved up a couple of gears and outplayed the opposition.
Vitally they scored early and that gave them the domination which they never really lost.
Andy Morrell set them on their way after a superbly penetrative run from Claus Jorgenson who had one of his better days in the centre of midfield.
The goal will have lifted the former Wrexham striker who has been out of the team and out of confidence this season. Still his first touch lets him down at vital times, but he could well now enjoy a run in the side.
Unfortunately Hutchison will not, as Millwall - the next opponents - refuse to let him play against them as part of their loan deal with Coventry.
It is a real shame. The former Liverpool and West Ham man has the sort of footballing brain rarely seen in the Championship. His ability to see situations and use the ball with intelligence appears to give Coventry an extra dimension.
Hutchison put the Sky Blues ahead in first-half stoppage time when the Scot received a cross from Impey, took a touch and fired home a terrific left-footed shot.
The Sky Blues struck again four minutes after the break when Hasney Aljofree's clearance fell straight to McSheffrey and he rifled in a firm shot which bounced off a post and over the line.
There were still a few moments of worry - partially down to Marton Fulop's propensity to punch when a catch would be far more effective - but by and large Coventry stood strong.
Shaw continues to play effectively when called upon and he and Mickey Evans enjoyed what was a physical game.
Coventry's unexpected renaissance had rattled Plymouth's seemingly brittle confidence and what had started as a poor performance finished as an easy, regulation victory.
Hutchison has clearly had an impact and it was easy to sense his frustration at missing out against his former employers.
"It is a shame. If they were prepared to let me go then why should they be worried about me playing against them? I really enjoyed playing today. When I joined last week I only trained on the Friday but the mood was not low at all. Micky Adams and Adrian Heath are very positive people and they would not allow morale to drop."
Scorers: Norris (25) 0-1, Morrell (36) 1-1, Hutchison (45) 2-1, McSheffrey (49) 3-1 Coventry City (4-4-2): Fulop; Whing, Page, Heath (Shaw 27), Hall (Impey 27); Morrell, Doyle, Jorgensen, Scowcroft (Hutchison 27), Adebola, McSheffrey. Subs not used: Ince, Thornton.
Plymouth Argyle (4-4-2): Larrieu; Doumbe, Ward, Aljofree (Derbyshire 62), Barness, (Connolly 73); Norris, Jarrett, Wotton, Capald; Evans, Chadwick 5 (Taylor 84). Subs not used: McCormick, Lasley.
Referee: N Miller (Co Durham) Bookings: Coventry - Hutchison, Doyle (fouls), McSheffrey (time wasting); Plymouth - Norris (foul) Attendance: 18,796 Coventry man of the match: Don Hutchison - has quality.
