ON-LOAN Burnley striker Alex MacDonald scored twice as Paul Cook endured a nightmare start to his reign as Accrington Stanley boss this afternoon.

Stanley were behind just three minutes into Cook’s reign as Toto Nsiala lost possession in defence and MacDonald combined with Nick Chadwick before sweeping the ball home for struggling Plymouth.

And MacDonald added his second in the 24th minute, pouncing to convert from close range after Ian Dunbavin had spilled Chadwick’s 20-yard effort.

Romain Larrieu made a brilliant save to tip substitute Jamie Devitt’s volley over the bar in the second half but Plymouth made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute as veteran defender Darren Purse thumped home a header from Paul Wotton’s free kick.

Devitt was then unlucky to see a fine free kick come back off the underside of the crossbar but Plymouth added a fourth in injury time as substitute Luke Daley found the bottom corner.

Stanley: Ian Dunbavin; Peter Murphy, Dean Winnard, Toto Nsiala, Kevin McIntyre; Luke Joyce, Charlie Barnett (Jamie Devitt 52), Bryan Hughes; Micah Evans (Liam Willis 74), Michael Smith (Padraig Amond 59), Craig Lindfield. Subs not used: Sean Murdoch, Danny Coid.

Plymouth: Romain Larrieu; Paul Bignot, Darren Purse, Maxime Blanchard, Onismor Bhasera; Luke Young, Paul Wotton, Conor Hourihane, Ashley Hemmings (Simon Walton 68); Alex MacDonald (Luke Daley 86), Nick Chadwick (Juvhel Tsoumou 77). Subs not used: Matt Lecointe, Durrell Berry.

Referee: Mark Heywood.

Attendance: 2,186.