REPORT | DERBY COUNTY 2 ARGYLE 3
Derby County 2
Collins 26
Mendez-Laing 38
Argyle 3
Whittaker 56
Cosgrove 77, 90
A dream debut from Sam Cosgrove was just reward for an inspired Argyle display in front of incredible Green Army support at Pride Park.
The Pilgrims were excellent throughout and yet still found themselves 2-0 down at the break, James Collins and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scoring against the run of play for Derby County.
There was no suggestion of Argyle meekly conceding defeat. Morgan Whittaker pulled one back on 55 minutes and Sam Cosgrove, two minutes after coming on as a sub and two days after joining on a season-long loan from Birmingham, levelled from close range.
A draw would have been a fine fightback from Argyle but Cosgrove turned it into a remarkable recovery, winning a fantastic match with a cool finish in the dying seconds.
Argyle manager Steven Schumacher made three changes from the win over Bolton Wanderers last weekend, with Adam Randell, Whittaker and Ryan Hardie replacing Jordan Houghton, Finn Azaz and Niall Ennis.
A bright start from the Greens saw Joe Edwards working the play nicely down the left, Danny Mayor slipped a pass back into the path of Matt Butcher, who forced an excellent early save from Joe Wildsmith after a sweet strike.
Edwards quickly switched into defensive mode for a block on Tom Barkhuizen’s shot and the all-action skipper then started the move that concluded with a shift of feet from Whittaker before a fizzing effort that shaved the far post.
The Greens were creating chances at will, Whittaker slipping a pass in behind for Hardie, who just stumbled over as he was poised to strike. Hardie had another sniff moments later, Eiran Cashin recovering for a last-ditch block.
Derby replied with Mendez-Laing racing clear and Brendan Galloway did a great job in forcing him wide enough for a sliced attempt that failed to trouble Mike Cooper.
The Rams were in front from their next attack, David McGoldrick robbing the ball in midfield and feeding a pass to Collins, who lifted a clever finish over the advancing body of Cooper.
The Pilgrims responded with some probing possession followed by a dipping shot from Whittaker, who began his career at Pride Park, but Wildsmith comfortably gathered on the bounce.
Whittaker then cut the ball back perfectly for Edwards but he was denied by an incredible goal-line block from Jason Knight.
The cruel side of football reared its head seven minutes before half-time, as, despite creating numerous opportunities, Argyle fell further behind, Mendez-Laing wriggling through two challenges and slotting a smart finish in the bottom corner.
There was still time for Wildsmith to palm clear an Adam Randell scorcher from distance but Argyle needed an excellent challenge from Galloway to thwart McGoldrick early in the second period.
Argyle were back in the game 10 minutes after the break. Butcher rifled a low shot from distance and, after a Derby block, the ball squirmed into space for Whittaker to calmly plant a neat finish beyond the exposed Wildsmith.
Both sides made a couple of changes on the hour, Azaz and Houghton replacing Bali Mumba and Randell for the Pilgrims, while Derby introduced Liam Thompson and Louie Sibley for McGoldrick and Barkhuizen.
The Greens resumed by setting up camp in the Derby half, Houghton immediately pulling the midfield strings, and Schumacher twisted again with the fresh legs of Ennis for Hardie.
Argyle were in complete control of possession, as the Rams looked to shut up shop. Cosgrove was handed his Pilgrim debut in place of Whittaker for the final 15 minutes, while Macaulay Gillesphey replaced Galloway.
Within two minutes of introducing himself to the Green Army, Cosgrove had his first Argyle goal, slotting an easy back-post finish after a terrific low cross from Ennis. A simple goal and the Pilgrims deserved to at least be level.
Derby finally broke the shackles with a break down the left and Dan Scarr did a super job to deflect the shot from William Osula into the side-netting.
A breathless, brilliant game had one final magnificent chapter. Cosgrove pounced on a loose touch, surged into the left channel and steered a sublime finish under the sprawling Wildsmith.
Derby County: 1 Joe Wildsmith (gk); 3 Craig Forsyth, 4 Conor Hourihane, 6 Eiran Cashin, 7 Tom Barkhuizen (17 Louie Sibley 60), 8 Max Bird (capt), 9 James Collins (23 William Osula 70), 10 David McGoldrick (16 Liam Thompson 60), 11 Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (18 Lewis Dobbin 80), 19 Richard Stearman, 38 Jason Knight. Substitutes (not used): 21 Scott Loach (gk), 15 Haydon Roberts, 34 Jake Rooney.
Booked: McGoldrick 57
Argyle: 1 Mike Cooper (gk); 6 Dan Scarr, 7 Matt Butcher, 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 9 Ryan Hardie (11 Niall Ennis 68), 10 Danny Mayor, 17 Bali Mumba (18 Finn Azaz 60), 19 Morgan Whittaker (16 Sam Cosgrove 75), 20 Adam Randell (4 Jordan Houghton 60), 21 Nigel Lonwijk, 22 Brendan Galloway (3 Macaulay Gillesphey 75). Substitutes (not used): 25 Callum Burton (gk), 5 James Wilson.
Booked: Mumba 34
Attendance: 27,173 (2,283 from Argyle)
Referee: Ollie Yates