Plymouth Argyle Shock Brentford With FA Cup Success
Plymouth Argyle produced the biggest shock of the FA Cup third round with an impressive victory on the road against Premier League outfit Brentford.
The Vertu-backed side headed to London on a tough run of form that had seem the Pilgrims slip to the bottom of the EFL Championship – having failed to take victory since beating Portsmouth at Home Park back in early November.
With new manager Miron Muslic watching on from the stands ahead of taking control of the team for the first time, Argyle weather the early pressure from the home side as Connor Hazard was twice called into action to deny Fabio Carvalho the opening goal.
However, Argyle grew into the game and could have gone ahead themselves with an effort from Callum Wright that forced Hakon Valdimarsson into a smart save.
Goalless at the break, Plymouth continued to create chances in the second half and could have gone ahead through a header from Matthew Sorinola – who put the ball over the top when well placed at the back post.
Argyle hadn’t won away from home since April whilst Brentford had scored more home goals than anyone else in the Premier League, yet it was the visitors who continued to have the better chances.
Despite that, it seemed that extra time could be on the cards until Morgan Whittaker sent the visiting fans into raptures with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
Picking up the ball on the right hand side, Whittaker moved across the pitch with a mazy run before letting fly from outside the box with a shot that flew beyond Valdimarsson and nestled in the corner of the net.
Under interim coach Kevin Nancekivell, Argyle held on to secure a win that sets up a fourth round tie at home to current Premier League leaders Liverpool.
League action resumes this week with Muslic taking charge of the team for the first time at home to Oxford United.