REPORT | ARGYLE 3 ROTHERHAM UNITED 2
Argyle 3
Azaz pen 45+5, 52
Whittaker 90+6
Rotherham United 2
Lindsay 16
Eaves 77
In a game that saw an incredible 20 minutes of stoppage time played over the two halves, Argyle won it in dramatic fashion, with two of their goals arriving in the added minutes.
The Millers grabbed an early lead through Jamie Lindsay but injuries and delays were the main story of the opening 45 (plus 13) minutes. The Greens did get some relief, however, Finn Azaz levelling with a penalty in the dying embers of an epic half.
Azaz grabbed his second after the break and Argyle were seemingly in control when the experienced Daniel Ayala was sent off for two bookable offences but Rotherham snatched responded with an equaliser from Tom Eaves.
The final word on a thrilling afternoon came from Morgan Whittaker, bundling the winner home following another delicious pass from Azaz.
Argyle boss Steven Schumacher made three changes from the battling ten-man draw at QPR, and all three came in defence, where Joe Edwards, Mickel Miller and Julio Pleguezuelo replaced Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Brendan Galloway and the suspended Dan Scarr.
A chaotic first half, that eventually took over an hour to complete, started in rather sedate fashion on a drizzly day and the Millers were first to threaten, former Exeter forward Sam Nombe fizzing a dangerous ball across the penalty area that eluded everyone.
A terrific block from Lewis Gibson repelled the next Rotherham foray from Dexter Lembikisa before Argyle found some attacking impetus with a delicious Morgan Whittaker that just missed the run of Azaz.
Rotherham responded with the opening goal, Lindsay drilling a low strike past an exposed Conor Hazard. Ryan Hardie lifted a half chance over the bar in the immediate Argyle reaction but then play was halted for some minor treatment on Hazard.
Ayala picked up his first booking for a foul on Azaz and the subsequent free-kick from Whittaker clipped the outside of the post as it whistled wide. Moments later, the Millers very nearly doubled their lead, Jordan Hugill heading wide from a great position.
Azaz continued to ask the main Pilgrim questions, forcing a low save from Viktor Johansson before play stopped again after a horrible collision between Hardie and Ayala, prompting a long delay and the removal of Hardie for Mustapha Bundu.
The new man barely lasted a few minutes before a crude challenge saw him taken off for Ben Waine. The nett result was 13 minutes of stoppage time and Johansson was soon back in action, producing his best to thwart Whittaker.
Argyle’s moment finally arrived four minutes into added time. Nombe was the guilty man for Rotherham, shoving Gibson from a corner, and Azaz calmly slotted the penalty. In all the fun, Rotherham had two more players booked and there was still time for Azaz to crash a shot against the post.
An hour after it had begun, the first-half whistle sounded, and the Greens were immediately back on the front foot for the second period, Edwards nodding over from an Azaz cross. The next twist in the Azaz show was a lovely second, smartly picking up on a delightful Luke Cundle dummy and sliding a neat finish into the bottom corner.
The mountain got steeper for the Millers when Ayala received his second yellow for a deliberate handball, although they did create a moment of concern with good work from Ollie Rathbone, thankfully read by a covering Jordan Houghton.
Cundle and Edwards were withdrawn for Kesler-Hayden and Callum Wright, but the next twist came as a blow to the guts for Argyle, as Rotherham drew level on 77 minutes, substitute Eaves prodding past Hazard after a nod down from Grant Hall.
Adam Randell and Galloway replaced Miller and Bali Mumba for the final ten minutes of a rollercoaster game. The visitors, down to ten men, understandably sat in for the point but Azaz, again, made the difference, cleverly looping a pass for a gleeful Whittaker to convert.
Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard; 2 Bali Mumba (20 Adam Randell 82), 4 Jordan Houghton, 5 Julio Pleguezuelo, 8 Joe Edwards (capt) (29 Kaine Kesler-Hayden 66), 9 Ryan Hardie (15 Mustapha Bundu 35) (23 Ben Waine 40), 10 Morgan Whittaker, 14 Mickel Miller (22 Brendan Galloway 82), 17 Lewis Gibson, 18 Finn Azaz, 28 Luke Cundle (11 Callum Wright 66). Substitutes (not used): 23 Callum Burton (gk), 3 Macaulay Gillepshey, 7 Matt Butcher.
Booked:
Rotherham: 1 Viktor Johansson; 2 Dexter Lembikisa, 3 Cohen Bramall, 4 Daniel Ayala, 10 Jordan Hugill (23 Sean Morrison 58), 16 Jamie Lindsay (20 Grant Hall 73), 18 Ollie Rathbone, 21 Lee Peltier (28 Sebastian Revan 46+5), 22 Hakeem Odoffin (12 Georgie Kelly 88), 27 Christ Tiehi, 29 Sam Nombe (9 Tom Eaves 77). Substitutes (not used): 26 Dillon Phillips (gk), 30 Arvin Appiah, 35 Ciaran McGuckin.
Booked: Ayala 25, Odoffin 36, Peltier 45+3, Nombe 45+3, Lindsay 49
Sent-Off: Ayala 54
Referee: Gavin Ward
Attendance: 16,025 (345 away)