Plymouth looked unrecognisable from the side that flopped under Wayne Rooney after Championship strugglers stunned Brentford in the FA Cup, writes WILLIAM PICKWORTH
- Plymouth recorded a 1-0 win over Brentford in the third round of the FA Cup
- For the first time since October 2023, they managed to achieve back-to-back clean sheets
- Listen to It all starts! Why Manchester United may have to sell Kobbie Mainoo or Alejandro Garnacho
It’s less than a fortnight since Wayne Rooney departed Plymouth, but had the Man United icon been watching their clash at Brentford from afar on Saturday, he might have wondered if that was the same team he parted ways with just days ago.
Despite Rooney’s best efforts, he was sent off as another defeat left Argyle at the bottom of the Championship and without a win in nine games.
But it was the away form that proved particularly damaging for Rooney as his side lost twelve and won none of their fourteen matches, with his reign marked by heavy losses on the road.
So when the FA Cup draw earned them a trip to Brentford, a free-scoring side with the second-best home record in the Premier League, you would have forgiven Plymouth fans for hiding behind the bench.
But there was something different in West London. Whether it was the boost from new manager Miron Muslic watching from the stands, the warming presence of four-time interim boss Kevin Nancekivell or simply the magic of the FA Cup, Plymouth were unrecognizable in the team that conceded 51 goals in 23 competition matches. under Rooney.
The defense here was all available to Rooney – and perhaps their performances were but a dime on his mind – as they blocked every ball and gave nothing away.
Rooney was sacked as Plymouth manager on New Year’s Eve because they were last in the table
Plymouth are unbeaten in their three games since, with two draws and one win
They survived an attack from Brentford to record a 1-0 victory in the third round of the FA Cup
Even when Thomas Frank called his big guns off the bench in Bryan Mbeumo, Keane Lewis-Potter and Yoane Wissa, Plymouth held firm.
“The players may feel a bit guilty about losing the manager and want to make up for it,” said an emotional Nancekivell after the match.
‘The work had to be organized according to our form, make it as difficult as possible and have some quality when we got that moment. And Morgan produced that piece of quality that won us the match.’
It was indeed a ‘piece of quality’ from Whittaker, a star who has recently been linked with the likes of Lazio, Atalanta, Rangers and Premier League clubs including Brentford.
Plymouth have promised to maintain any interest in the forward in January, but a match-winning display like this will only increase the number of potential suitors.
Nancekivell said: “I wasn’t surprised when the ball hit the net because he has that quality.”
“Congratulations to Plymouth,” Frank added. ‘They deserved the win. They defended brilliantly and scored a really good goal from the player we knew could score the goal.”