Swansea City (A) | Whittaker's Reaction
Looking back on Saturday’s game at Swansea City, in which Argyle beat Swansea City 1-0, it seems like the way it unfolded was practically a formality.
It was, of course, anything but that, as Argyle worked incredibly hard to beat a threatening Swansea side, but all the stories going into the game seemed to play out to their satisfying conclusions.
Argyle, searching for a first away win of the season, captured it, and in doing so scored their first goal from a corner this season, too.
Head Coach Ian Foster, unbeaten in four games since his arrival, stretched that record to five, while Swansea boss Luke Williams, who was appointed in the same week as Foster, is yet to get his first win.
Overriding all that, though, was a certain Morgan Whittaker.
Whittaker tends to write his own stories these days. He is now the joint-top goalscorer in the Sky Bet Championship, with 16 goals, as has a cup goal to go with that, too. In recent weeks, he has been given the captain’s armband as well.
Throughout the recent January Transfer Window, Whittaker was the subject to speculation about his future, with Argyle turning down a bid from Italian side Lazio. Argyle fans were as delighted to see Whittaker remain a Pilgrim on 2 February as they were at his arrival in the summer.
And that is the natural final chapter of this little tale, to refer to Whittaker’s previous employers: Swansea City.
It was from the Swans that Morgan made a huge impact in the first part of the 2022/23 season, only to be recalled by the Welsh side in the January of that campaign. Returning to South Wales, Whittaker played a small amount of football for Swansea in the Championship, and then signed for Argyle on a permanent basis in July.
Every strand of every narrative outlined above came together when Whittaker completed a slick corner routine, involving Adam Forshaw and Alfie Devine, to bury an 18th-minute goal which proved to be the difference in the game.
After the game, a beaming Whittaker told Argyle TV: “All in all, for me, it's a perfect day: scoring, winning, clean sheet, first away win. I can't be happier. It’s obviously a team effort. I think every man was unbelievable.
“Where I was this time last year to now, walking out as captain, back at Swansea, I couldn't have imagined it. I'm pleased to be captain and I'm grateful for the opportunity from the Gaffer.
“I think we've tried to do [the corner routine] about four times now! Twice we've had an opportunity, two times the other team has kicked it away. For it to happen today is perfect.
“A lot of work goes into it because I think we know what we're good at. It's worked today.
“I thought we weren't going to do it, to be fair. I think Alfie went to go, then came back and then went to do it. We know that Adam’s got the quality to bring a pass in like that, then it's just my job just to hopefully finish it.
Nearly 2,000 of the Green Army filled the sold-out away end at the Swansea.com Stadium, naturally ecstatic at seeing the first away victory of the season. Their backing of the team undoubtedly boosted Morgan and the players, with Whittaker saying that before the game even started, they were feeling the love.
And all the love that the Green Army bestows upon Morgan is absolutely reciprocated.
“I think we had a good feeling, even when we were warming up,” he said. “The fans were so loud. I know it's our first away win, but even before that, they've been unbelievable.
“Coming to a place like this where you know it's going to be tough, having the fans behind you, even in the warm-up, is massive.
“I'm just happy where I am. I'm happy where I live. I'm happy with the team. I'm happy playing. I'm happy with the fans. It's all reciprocated with the fans as well. I'm comfortable, and I think that's shown with how I'm playing.”
