Norwich City (H) | Schumacher's Reaction

This article, our regular post-match piece with our manager, is titled ‘Schumacher’s Reaction’.

Today, his reaction is all about his team’s reaction.

After Tuesday night’s game at Bristol City, Schumacher understandably cut a frustrated figure, as his side lost 4-1, and everything he said subsequently was geared towards ensuring that there was no repeat of the occurrences at Ashton Gate, when Argyle were next in action.

There was not. Quite the opposite, in fact. Norwich City appeared to be formidable prospective opponents, but Argyle blew them away in an astonishing first half in which the Greens scored four times, including two injury-time strikes, from Morgan Whittaker and Finn Azaz.

For Whittaker, this was his second goal, having opened the goalscoring before Dan Scarr made it two. After the break, Whittaker grabbed his hat-trick, and although Norwich pulled two back, Luke Cundle issued a coup de grace at the very end.

Argyle were superb. They swept forward in flowing moves, they were ultra-clinical in front of goal, but of equal – in fact, likely greater – importance was the fact that the Pilgrims, to a man, were organised, committed and controlled. Everything that they were not on Tuesday night.

“Every time we've had a poor performance since I've been at this club,” said Schumacher, “we've always had a good reaction because the players that we bring to the club are good people. Everyone has an off day every now and again.

“The players responded brilliantly and showed what they were all about today. I think their effort and their commitment to stick to the plan and put bodies on the line for the shirt was there for all to see. When you do that, you get your rewards.

“The thing that pleases me the most is that we spoke about [Bristol City] on Thursday, and then we quickly went on to what we were going to try and do against Norwich. We changed shape today; we went to a back three system that we were comfortable with last season, because the way that Norwich play, that was going to give us the best chance to intercept the ball in the middle of the pitch.

“We spoke about the game plan, we explained it, and then we tried to practice it yesterday in training. It worked to a tee, so that's the most pleasing part, as well as the response, as well as the reaction.”

Whittaker’s hat-trick permeated the scoreline, and epitomised Argyle’s ruthlessness in front of goal, as not only did they notch six goals, but did so with eye-catching fluency.  

Schumacher was naturally pleased with his number 10’s treble, and indeed all of his attacking players’ output.

“Morgan showed his quality,” said Schumacher. “He played a little bit more central today because we changed our system. He was in an area that he's really comfortable in, and he probably should have had another goal!

“His desire to get in the right position and then his quality; his first goal today was in a similar to position that he was in last week, where he dragged it wide at Preston. Today he showed that composure and hit the target.

“I’m really pleased for him. It should give him loads of confidence. He's now got four goals and five assists; for one of our huge players in the squad, it's important that he contributes to those parts of the game. Thankfully he's doing that.

“Throughout the season, we've had a number of opportunities where we're breaking, we've got an overload on the opposition and we haven't quite got it right. But today we were so clinical. The quality that Finn Azaz showed, Morgan showed, the runs that Ryan [Hardie] made. Mustapha [Bundu] came on at the end and made a lovely pass, for Luke Cundle to show the quality to control it and score. It was brilliant. It's exactly what you need what you've planned a counter-attacking type of performance.”

Another sold-out Home Park crowd certainly enjoyed the game. Even with Argyle’s peerless home record, six-goal hauls do not come along all that often, and the Green Army cheered their heroes from the field after the game.

Having travelled in impressive numbers to Bristol City, and before that Preston North End, it felt like a reward for every one of them.

“It's been a tough week,” said Schumacher. “We've had 6,000 fans at away games. We played really well on Saturday, played rubbish on Tuesday, but the support was there.

“We always appreciate that support and then today, to score six goals and for everyone to go home happy, it's ended the week on a good note rather than the sourness that we had throughout the middle of the week.

“I'm buzzing for them - and we can all enjoy a good weekend.”