Emirates FA Cup Report | Brentford 0-1 Argyle
For the first time this season, Argyle have won away from home.
Never mind that. For the first time since 1984, Argyle have beaten a team from the top flight in the Emirates FA Cup. And we all know what happened that year.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. For now, we will celebrate a superb result and performance as Argyle beat Brentford 1-0 thanks to Morgan Whittaker’s goal.
By the way, that is Plymouth Argyle, with the worst away record in the Sky Bet Championship, beating Brentford, with the second-best home record in the Premier League, behind leaders Liverpool.
Yes, we know it is a different competition, different team selections. Who cares. Let’s enjoy it.
The most notable name on the Argyle teamsheet was record signing Michael Baidoo, making his debut. Baidoo has not been brought in to be a centre-forward, one would think, but needs must with several injuries restricting the choice for Kevin Nancekivell and Joe Edwards, in their final game in temporary charge.
Baidoo played at the top of a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Morgan Whittaker and Callum Wright playing in support of him. In the centre of midfield a pair of Argyle Academy graduates, of different graduation classes. For Adam Randell, this was his 106th Argyle start; for Caleb Roberts, his sixth – and three of those have been in the EFL Trophy.
Bail Mumba and Matty Sorinola continued as wing-backs, either side of a back three that comprised, from right to left, Julio Pleguezuelo, Victor Palsson and Brendan Galloway, all in front of Conor Hazard in goal.
Baidoo’s first involvement was nearly a telling one. Sorinola threaded a pass from deep which the Ghanaian looked to run on to, and very nearly latched on.
Argyle had some bright moments in the embryonic stages of the game, but the pattern soon turned to Brentford being in charge of possession, trying to work the space to get through the Pilgrims.
To be fair to Argyle, they restricted their Premier League opponents to precious few opportunities, but there was a good chance for the Bees when Fabio Carvalho nicked a ball from Roberts and drove a shot from the edge of the area which Hazard saved really well to his right.
The same combination – Carvalho shooting, Hazard saving – came together a few minutes later, as Brentford worked a corner nicely from the left-hand side, but although it was the Bees bossing possession, Argyle’s resistance was pretty strong.
The Greens even had arguably the best chance of the half. Palsson’s free-kick from his own half got Mumba running down the left, and a backheel brought Wright into the attack. Wright swerved inside, entered the box, and fired a shot towards the far post which Hakon Valdimarsson was alive to save to his left.
After the break, it was more of the same. Argyle actually had the brightest moments of the first 20 minutes of the second period from an attacking perspective, most notably from two Callum Wright crosses. One, to the near post, just evaded a sniffing Baidoo, and the second was met by an arriving Sorinola, but the latter headed off target.
Just after the hour mark came substitutions, with Argyle bringing on Mustapha Bundu for Baidoo, and Brentford introducing Keane Lewis-Potter and Bryan Mbeumo. Mbeumo, it should be noted, is joint third in the Premier League goalscoring chart, level with Cole Palmer and Alexander Isak, and behind only Erling Haaland and Mo Salah. Not bad company to be keeping.
Argyle played a super passing move, through several players but most prominently Randell, which concluded in Whittaker’s powerful effort striking the back of Wright, who could not get out of the way.
Cue another compliment. Next to come on for Brentford was Yoane Wissa (10 goals in 17, joint seventh in the Premier League goals list) and Nathan Collins (every minute of every game in the Prem thus far this season).
Brentford responded to their changes with more pressure, more corners. Randell and Galloway both put in exceptional blocks to shots, and Carvalho had another attempt deflected wide.
Argyle were still a presence going forward, and with Brentford men in attack, one counter involving Wright and Bundu on the left almost ended in a cut-back finding Whittaker in the centre.
Whittaker then took matters into his own hands.
Receiving the ball near the touchline on the right, Morgan’s thought was always to cut in on his left foot and shoot. It took him many seconds – and about 40 yards of lateral running – to do so, but boy did it work.
Taking patience to another level, Whittaker continued to evade tackles and anticipated blocks until letting rip from 20 yards, beating the goalkeeper, putting Argyle in the lead and sending the Green Army into raptures.
After today, it is over to new Head Coach Miron Muslic, who we will all support and back with everything we have.
But for now – our collectives hats go off to our incredible stand-in duo in the dugout.
This truly was the Joe-Nance of the FA Cup.
Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard, 2 Bali Mumba, 5 Julio Pleguezuelo, 10 Morgan Whittaker, 11 Callum Wright (3 Nathanael Ogbeta, 90), 20 Adam Randell (capt, 18 Darko Gyabi, 80)), 22 Brendan Galloway (17 Tymoteusz Puchacz, 80), 29 Matty Sorinola, 30 Michael Baidoo (15 Mustapha Bundu, 60), 34 Caleb Roberts, 44 Victor Palsson. Substitutes: 31 Daniel Grimshaw (gk), 6 Kornel Szucs, 7 Ibrahim Cissoko, 28 Rami Al Hajj, 35 Freddie Issaka.
Goals: Whittaker 82
Brentford: 12 Hakon Valdimarsson, 3 Rico Henry (23 Keane Lewis-Potter, 63), 4 Sepp Van Den Berg (22 Nathan Collins, 71), 7 Kevin Schade, 8 Mathias Jenson (capt), 14 Fabio Carvalho, 18 Yehor Yarmolik (19 Bryan Mbeumo, 63), 24 Mikkel Damsgaard, 30 Mads Roerslev, 32 Paris Maghoma (11 Yoane Wissa 71), 36 Kim Ji-Soo. Substitutes: 1 Mark Flekken (gk), 21 Jayden Meghoma, 26 Yunus Konak, 42 Tony Yogane, 43 Benjamin Arthur.
Attendance: 16,790 (2,457 away)
Referee: Ben Toner
