Report | Argyle 2-3 Derby County
For the second time in a week, history was defied in a Plymouth Argyle match – this time, it did not go the Pilgrims’ way.
On Wednesday, with Argyle 2-1 up at Portsmouth, the brain went to its recollections of the consecutive 2-2 draws at Fratton Park, all of which saw Pompey equalise late on, but Argyle held on.
With that, on Saturday, there must have been more than a few souls inside Home Park that recalled a famous day at Pride Park, two seasons ago, in which Argyle trailed Derby County 2-0, and turned it right round.
The pattern seemed on again, but beware the turning of the tides of March. The Greens had fallen behind to goals from Marcus Harness and Harrison Armstrong, but levelled via a Mustapha Bundu free-kick and an own goal from Nat Phillips, in the first minute of the second period.
In search of a winner, Argyle were hit by the sucker punch, and Harness scored what on the day was a winner, and ultimately, one feels, could end up being a season-definer for both teams.
Argyle made three changes for the game, two of which were enforced. Matty Sorinola’s suspension was covered by Bali Mumba stepping in at right wing-back, while the injured Julio Pleguezuelo was replaced by Kornel Szucs. Completing the backline were Tymoteusz Puchacz, Nikola Katic and Maksym Talovierov.
In midfield, Darko Gyabi and Jordan Houghton continued as a duo, Bundu again led the line with Ryan Hardie to his right, with Callum Wright, in for Michael Obafemi, on the left.
Now, stop us if you have heard this one before: Argyle started brightly, created the better chances in the early stages of the game, but fell behind to a goal from their opponents early in the game.
After six minutes, with Argyle on the front foot, Houghton kept a ball alive near the edge of the area, Hardie did well to shift wide to Mumba, whose dangerous low cross deflected off defender Matt Clarke and nearly ricocheted into the goal.
Not long afterwards, Wright did well to release Hardie, but the ball got away from him as he looked get beyond the defence.
However, Derby won a throw-in high up the field on the right, and made it count. Kane Wilson launched one into the centre, Phillips flicked on, and Harness was able to get the ball, turn, and knock home.
In a pattern reminiscent of the game seven days ago against Sheffield Wednesday, going a goal down visibly rocked the Pilgrims. They struggled to create chances, to get the ball moving and – to the contrary – Derby looked a threat whenever they attacked.
The Rams’ second goal came from a long throw, too. This time, there were three headers into the air before the ball fell to Armstrong, who hit a volley with the precise combo of power and precision, and it flew in.
Argyle had to rally, and they showed some flickers when Talovierov whistled a 30-yarder over the bar, on 30 minutes. Eight minutes later, Argyle levered open the window to let some air in on the game.
Hardie was fouled, running into the left channel, and as the free-kick was placed up, Bundu and Puchacz stood over it. Bundu always looked favourite, given the angle, and given that if was not going to take it, one would expect him to be in the box, prowling.
Bundu took aim, stepped up, and drove an unstoppable effort into the top corner. Game very much on.
Derby’s riposte was nearly immediate. Jerry Yates shot over in a good position within a minute of the restart, and had that gone in, it really may have been a blow to the metaphorical solar plexus that Argyle would not have recovered from.
Instead, they went into the break just 2-1 down – and 27 seconds into the second half, Argyle were level.
Hardie got into the right channel once more, and decided to cross early, looking for Wright. It is probable that Wright got little on the ball, if anything, but his presence certainly panicked Phillips into bumping the ball past his own goalkeeper, and the Pilgrims had parity.
On the hour, Derby withdrew Liam Thompson and replaced him with Kayden Jackson, with Argyle responding by bringing on Obafemi for Wright. Soon after, Mumba wandered infield and hit a decent, left-footed effort which Jacob Zetterstrom saved well, low to his left.
Argyle went to the bench for a triple change, introducing Joe Edwards, Malachi Boateng and Nathanael Ogbeta for Mumba, Gyabi and Puchacz. Soon afterwards, Ogbeta won the ball, Boateng hooked on, and Bundu and Hardie were working in tandem again. Hardie was fouled, but rode it, and play was allowed to continue. A release to Bundu, and then a low cross looked threatening. A hungry Hardie reached out a leg and steered an effort wide. A better option may well have been to allow an arriving Obafemi to have a go instead.
From another Derby long throw, Argyle broke. Katic the catalyst, able to release Bundu, who ran along way before being bundled over near the edge of the area.
The crowd buzzed. They had seen Bundu slam in one free-kick, and now they sensed, from probably a more favourable angle, that he had a chance to repeat the feat. His strike was true, the save from Zetterstrom, to prevent the ball hitting the top corner, was outstanding.
Argyle sent on Rami Al Hajj, for Szucs, adding an extra creative force in exchange for a defender, looking to win the game. However, it was the Rams who nicked it.
Harness, one goal in the bag, received the ball on the edge of the area, and offloaded to the left. Callum Elder steered in a low cross, and Harness had timed his run well enough that he simply had to open up his instep and guided into the net, in front of 1,700 jubilant Rams.
Ten minutes of added time were signalled. In it, Derby nearly added another when Yates, needlessly unselfish, cut back to Jackson, whose effort was saved by Hazard.
Nothing Argyle could do could break Derby down for a third time, and the Rammed away end was the one left celebrating.
Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard, 2 Bali Mumba (8 Joe Edwards, 72), 4 Jordan Houghton, 6 Kornel Szucs (28 Rami Al Hajj, 84), 9 Ryan Hardie, 11 Callum Wright (14 Michael Obafemi, 63), 15 Mustapha Bundu, 17 Tymoteusz Puchacz (3 Nathanael Ogbeta, 72), 18 Darko Gyabi (19 Malachi Boateng, 72), 25 Nikola Katic (capt), 40 Maksym Talovierov. Substitutes: 31 Daniel Grimshaw (gk), 34 Caleb Roberts, 35 Freddie Issaka, 44 Victor Palsson.
Goals: Bundu 38, Phillips og 46
Derby County: 1 Jacob Zetterstrom, 2 Kane Wilson (6 Sondre Langas, 74), 3 Craig Forsyth, 10 Jerry Yates, 12 Nat Phillips, 16 Liam Thompson (19 Kayden Jackson, 61), 18 Marcus Harness, 20 Callum Elder, 25 Matt Clarke, 28 Harrison Armstrong, 32 Ebou Adams (capt). Substitutes: 31 Josh Vickers (gk), 7 Tom Barkhuizen, 17 Kenzo Goudmijn, 21 Jake Rooney, 24 Ryan Nyambe, 29 Jeff Hendrick, 38 Charles Agbawodikiezu.
Goals: Harness 11, Armstrong 26
Booked: Phillips 45+5, Thompson 58, Adams 80
Attendance: 16,978 (1,730 away)
Referee: John Busby
