Tuesday 12 January 2021

FAC:Plymouth(A)Huddersfield

 Saturday 9th January

Huddersfield 2 Plymouth Argyle 3

From the BBC Sport website:

Plymouth Argyle produced one of the shocks of the day in the FA Cup third round as Ryan Lowe's unfancied League One side knocked out much-weakened Championship side Huddersfield Town.

The Terriers were twice ahead through an early header from Romoney Crichlow and Aaron Rowe's superb left-foot shot.

But Argyle levelled each time via goals from Ryan Hardie and Panutche Camara.

And Joe Edwards hit a 70th-minute winner to earn Argyle their first trip to the fourth round since 2008.

The only real shock at the John Smith's Stadium was that enterprising Argyle - 15th in the third tier, 26 places below Huddersfield - did not win by more as an admittedly Terriers second-string XI bowed out at the third-round stage for the third successive year.

Home keeper Ben Hamer denied the Devon side with a string of saves after Crichlow had put the hosts ahead with a near-post bullet header from Patrick Jones' left-wing corner.

Edwards was then denied at the near post by keeper Hamer before the visitors found a way to level in the 24th minute.

Joe Edwards' fourth goal of the season was his first away from Home Park in 16 months
Joe Edwards' fourth goal of the season was his first away from Home Park in 16 months

Luke Jephcock's beautifully weighted through ball played in Hardie down the inside-left channel and his powerful low left-foot shot was too strong for Hamer, beating him at his near post.

Huddersfield, who had made 11 changes from last week's home defeat by Reading, were back in front when Rowe cut in from the right unchallenged after 32 minutes to arrow home a stunning left-foot 25-yard shot into the top left corner.

But Argyle equalised for a second time three minutes before the break when Danny Mayor's cutback from the left found Camara, who clipped home a cool right-foot finish from 12 yards.

Hardie then had a shot turned onto the bar by Hamer and Jephcott had a close-range effort blocked after the break before Mayor's superb mazy dribble to the left byline picked out Edwards, who tucked away a deserved winner.

Huddersfield boss Carlo Corberan:

"We wanted to win. Even if we used the competition for more of these experiences to grow our squad, it was important we continued.

"It was a big positive for some of these players that they were playing. There were positives and also things we need to improve on.

"Our ambition for the rest of the season is to be a more competitive team than we have been in the Championship."

Plymouth manager Ryan Lowe:

"When the opposition make as many changes as Huddersfield did, it's never easy.

"But it's massive for me. I'll watch the highlights on TV tonight with my lad. It's the best competition in the world that we, or I as a manager, will ever enter.

"It was a great performance by our lads. They were brilliant in everything they did. We counter-attacked very well and scored three fantastic goals."

Romoney Crichlow's fourth-minute header opened the scoring at the John Smith's Stadium
Romoney Crichlow's fourth-minute header opened the scoring at the John Smith's Stadium

No comments:

Post a Comment