REPORT | NORWICH CITY 2 ARGYLE 1
Norwich City 2
Sargent 67
Phillips o.g. 74
Argyle 1
Whittaker 10
Football is a cruel, brutal game, and Argyle left Carrow Road feeling very sore after two set-piece goals saw Norwich fight back for a 2-1 victory.
Argyle’s number ten scored after ten minutes, neatly adding up to 20 goals in the season for Morgan Whittaker, and the Pilgrims held that lead until the midpoint of the second period.
Josh Sargent delivered the equaliser for the Canaries and Argyle, who had created a number of chances to extend the lead, were left shattered by a painful own goal, as the ball bounced off the unfortunate Ashley Phillips.
Argyle boss Ian Foster made three changes from the narrow home loss to Preston before the international break, with Alfie Devine, Brendan Galloway and Matty Sorinola coming in for Joe Edwards, Julio Pleguezuelo and Mustapha Bundu.
The Pilgrims inflicted a brutal 6-2 defeat on the Canaries back in September but Norwich have been in fine form since Christmas, beating Rotherham 5-0 and Stoke 3-0 in their last two games to climb into the play-off places.
The home side enjoyed the bulk of early possession, without ever penetrating Argyle’s solid defensive shape, and when Sargent did grab half a yard for a shot from distance, Lewis Gibson read the danger to execute a solid block.
Moments later, Whittaker, who scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture at Home Park, headed a delightful opener into the corner of the net after a sublime cross from the right by Sorinola. A fine goal from the Greens and the ideal start in East Anglia.
The next contribution from Phillips was almost as good as a goal. After demonstrating superb pace to catch the run of Sargent, who had found a gap in the Pilgrim defence, the tackle was beautifully timed with the USA international poised to shoot.
Kenny McLean then weaved his way through midfield before launching a fierce left-foot drive narrowly over the bar. Borja Sainz volleyed wide from a half-cleared corner before his next attempt, after a dazzling run, was brilliantly blocked by Galloway.
A deep corner almost broke the Argyle resistance, Sargent volleying goalward but he was thwarted by a superb intervention from Devine, deflecting the ball on to the outside of the post.
Argyle replied with a wonderful counter, Jordan Houghton steering a sumptuous pass down the line for Whittaker, who surged inside from the right and fed a perfect pass to Hardie. The first touch steered the ball around the onrushing Gunn but Hardie’s cutback toward the empty net from a tight angle just rolled beyond the far post.
All of a sudden, the Pilgrims looked a major threat, Houghton slipping a lovely pass into the channel for Mickel Miller, who saw his cutback cleared for a corner. The set-piece was met on the volley by Houghton but Gunn was in the right place to make the save.
A thoroughly entertaining first period ended with Argyle noses in front, although the Greens survived one last major scare, Sainz guiding the ball across the six-yard box and, mercifully, just behind the run of Sargent.
The Greens restarted with a terrific sweeping move involving Devine and Adam Randell, culminating in a delicious cross by Miller that Gunn gobbled up just before it reached Hardie.
Norwich, meanwhile, were becoming increasingly frustrated, prompting home manager David Wagner to call on Christian Fassnacht from the bench but Argyle were the side causing problems. Whittaker’s initial drive from a tight angle was saved by the feet of Gunn and Randell was off target with the rebound volley.
Fine play from Devine conjured the next opening but his cutback was intercepted by the home defence, as Foster turned to the bench, replacing Sorinola with the experience of Edwards.
Sadly for Argyle, the Canaries found an equaliser midway through the second half. Fassnacht bounced a corner toward the near post and Sargent met the ball on the half-volley to guide it beyond Michael Cooper.
The Greens looked for an instant response, Devine racing into the right channel and stumbling over the approaching Gunn, penalty enquiries waved away. Adam Forshaw and Lino Sousa replaced Miller and Randell for the final 20 minutes of an intriguing encounter.
A second corner delivered a second goal for Norwich and a cruel blow. Sam McCallum made the run to the near post and his flick on bounced off Phillips for an unfortunate own goal. It was harsh on every Pilgrim and especially Phillips, who had been excellent throughout.
Argyle responded with tremendous spirit, carving through the home defence with great play from Houghton but when the ball to Hardie, Gunn was off his line in a flash to narrow the angle. Whittaker then had a shot charged down from a Sousa cross.
Pleguezuelo and Ben Waine were introduced for Phillips and Devine before a wonderful free-kick from Gabriel Sara bounced down off the underside of the bar and Fassnacht headed the rebound over with Cooper on the floor.
The Pilgrims kept plugging away in search of a leveller but, after such a courageous display, this defeat will hurt.
Norwich: 28 Angus Gunn; 3 Jack Stacey, 6 Ben Gibson, 7 Borja Sainz (24 Shane Duffy 87), 9 Josh Sargent, 10 Ashley Barnes, 15 Sam McCallum (8 Liam Gibbs 90+2), 17 Gabriel Sara, 19 Jacob Sorensen, 23 Kenny McLean (capt), 26 Marcelino Nunez (16 Christian Fassnacht 57). Substitutes (not used): 12 George Long (gk), 14 Sydney Van Hooijdonk, 21 Danny Batth, 35 Kellen Fisher, 44 Kenneth Aboh, 49 Guillherme Montoia.
Booked:
Argyle: 1 Michael Cooper; 4 Jordan Houghton (capt), 9 Ryan Hardie, 10 Morgan Whittaker, 14 Mickel Miller (3 Lino Sousa 71), 16 Alfie Devine (23 Ben Waine 81), 17 Lewis Gibson, 20 Adam Randell (27 Adam Forshaw 71), 22 Brendan Galloway, 26 Ashley Phillips (5 Julio Pleguezuelo 81), 29 Matty Sorinola (8 Joe Edwards 63). Substitutes (not used): 21 Conor Hazard (gk), 6 Dan Scarr, 11 Callum Wright, 15 Mustapha Bundu.
Booked: Randell 18, Sorinola 30, Miller 35, Devine 69, Pleguezuelo 82
Referee: James Linington
Attendance: 26,622