Pilgrims stun the Bees to inflict early FA Cup exit

FA Cup Third Round

Brentford (0) 0

Plymouth Argyle (1) 1 Whittaker 82

A lacklustre Brentford were dumped out of the FA Cup as Thomas Frank paid the price for fielded a team well below full-strength that simply failed to ignite.

It looked as though the script had been written for a triumphant return to action for Rico Henry after 15 months out through injury. Instead, it was the unfancied Argyle - propping up the Championship and currently between managers - who won the day.

A fine low strike from Morgan Whittaker eight minutes from time settled the outcome in dramatic fashion.

Not seen in action since September 2023, this has been a horrendously long journey for one of the finest left-sided players the Bees have had in recent years.

The hope must be that Henry, still only 27, can rediscover his magical stride. The Bees have missed him - his marauding attacking presence a source of so many goals in the past.

He was taken off just past the hour - to rapturous acclaim - and had already done enough to remind the fans of what an asset he can be. Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for the unimpressive Bees.

Argyle were desperate to give their travelling Green Army something to cheer after a dismal season which has seen them taking hammerings at the wrong end of the Championship and parting company with boss Wayne Rooney.

They are under the guidance of interim coach Kevin Nancekivell, with Miron Muslic about to take over a Pilgrims outfit rooted to the bottom of the table.

Their spirits were lifted by two dynamic saves from Conor Hazard in the opening quarter of an hour - denying Fabio Carvalho in both instances. It give them belief they could find the spirit and defensive cussedness needed to pull off a shock win.

When Brendan Galloway spread himself to block a shot, he was hugged by a team-mate and his name was chanted in the away end. 'How bad must you be, we're drawing away' the Pilgrims fans chimed.

Skipper Adam Randall's 'bodies on the line' action received even greater traction 15 minutes from the end as the belief grew.

Frank hoped to get away with a team made up of mostly understudies but threw on Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa with half an hour to play. It turned out to be too little, too late.

Matthew Sorinola got forward to head over at the back post in an Argyle raid to remind the bees that they could take nothing for granted but the warning went unheeded.

With time ebbing away, Whittaker drifted in from the right as Bees defenders backed off and he worked his way onto his left foot to rifle low past Hakon Valdimarsson from the edge of the D. The Bees keeper will feel he should have done better.

Argyle fans were understandably ecstatic and the players deservedly drank in the acclaim of the ebullient away section at the end.

Bees: (4-3-3) Valdimrarsson - Roerslev, van den Berg (Collins 70), Ji-Soo, Henry (Lewis-Potter 63) - Yarmoliuk (Mbeumo 63), Jensen, Maghoma (Wissa 70) - Carvalho, Schade, Damsgaard

Argyle: (3-4-3) Hazard - Pleguezuelo, Palsson, Galloway (Puchacz 80)- Sorinota, Randell (Gyabi 81), Wright (Orgbeta 91), Mumba - Whittaker, Baidoo (Bundu 60), Roberts

Attendance: 16,790