It was the day football united behind a young father from Sierra Leone. Never mind that Watford have lost their place at the top of the Championship, this was the afternoon when everything was being geared towards saving their midfielder, Al Bangura.

Bangura, 19, is facing deportation after being told that the immigration authorities have decreed his reason for leaving his homeland in the first place - that of fearing for his life - have been exaggerated.

Tears flowed as Bangura attempted to compose himself on the pitch during the half-time interval after a lap of honour where both sets of supporters rose to their feet in acclaim.

Wiping his eyes, Bangura, who did not play due to injury, said: “I want to thank the fans that have supported me today. I want the Watford fans to know I am part of the family.” As he spoke, banks of spectators stood holding some of the 7,000 posters with Bangura’s face on that have been printed as part of a campaign. His wave to the crowd when he left the pitch might have had a look of farewell, but he is not giving up.

A petition signed by more than 4,000 people will be presented to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in the next few days after an appeal was made to keep him in the country.

Bangura – whose son Samal was born only a few weeks ago - has been denied permission to stay in Britain after the decision of an asylum and immigration tribunal concerning the strength of his reasons for not wanting to live in Sierra Leone.

He has insisted he left his home of Freetown in 2003 because of death threats from a secret society, where his late father was a member, in which he refused to take part in their rituals that included mutilations.

Watford’s honorary life president Sir Elton John has written to Gerry Sutcliffe, the Sports Minister, and Watford Labour MP, Claire Ward, supported Bangura on the pitch.

Though she was at first booed by the crowd, she received applause after she said: “We are not going to stop until Al gets to stay.” Aidy Boothroyd, the Watford manager, might have been furious with his side’s late defeat, but he said: “We are all humbled by our fans and Plymouth’s fans today. Al is overwhelmed. We are trying to raise as much awareness of it as we can.” Writing in yesterday’s programme, Boothroyd stressed: “In a country where our borders are seemingly open to people from all over the world and in a game where we make plenty of noise about kicking racism out of football and society, it’s beyond belief that someone like Al has been subjected to the things he has had to go through in recent weeks.”

Bangura has insisted he should stay: “I have my family and my job. I’m not doing anyone any harm. I am praying that the Home Secretary will review this and allow me to stay.” As for the game - which was dire – Watford’s minds looked elsewhere, though Boothroyd insisted the Bangura affair cannot be an excuse. The Hornets have now won only once in seven matches, having been nine points clear at the top in October.

“We are professionals,” said Boothroyd. “We had enough chances to win it, but had enough warning signs to lose it.” Even before kick-off, Watford were no longer leading the table after West Bromwich Albion’s lunchtime victory over Charlton Athletic and Boothroyd was left kicking the floor in fury when Plymouth snatched victory a minute from the end.

Barry Hayles broke clear on the right and crossed to the far post, where David Norris fired the ball home into the far corner.

“Some will say it was a smash and grab,” said Argyle boss Paul Sturrock. “There were many things around our box but we had the best chances.” The arrival of Damien Francis at the start of the second half brought a greater urgency to Watford and within five minutes Tommy Smith’s left-footed shot hit the post. Francis then forced a superb save out of Romain Larrieu, the Plymouth goalkeeper diving to his right to turn away his 20-yard drive.

It was the closest Watford came. But, as Norris scored the winner, the home team looked to achieve a success of their own – keeping Al Bangura in the country.

Star man: Lee Hodges (Plymouth)

Player ratings

Watford: Lee 5, Doyley 5, Jackson 5, DeMerit 5, Stewart 6 (Mariappa 72min), Ainsworth 5 (Francis, ht 6), O’Toole 6, Williamson 5, Smith 6, King 5, Priskin 5 (Ellington 65min)

Plymouth: Larrieu 6, Gosling 5, Timar 5, Seip 5, Sawyer 5, Hodges 7, Easter 6, Norris 6, Abdou 6, Halmosi 6, Hayles 6

Scorer: Plymouth: Norris 89