CHAMPIONSHIP Plymouth Argyle 2 Watford 2
- Details
- Created on Friday, 22 November 2024 22:52
- Last Updated on Saturday, 23 November 2024 12:54
- Published on Friday, 22 November 2024 22:52
- Written by ROSS REID at Home Park
Gray gracefully swept home from just inside the box and off the far post after being teed up by substitute striker Mustapha Bundu in the sixth and final minute of stoppage time.
Watford, who dominated early possession, took a ninth minute lead when Vakoun Bayo slid in at the far post to beat home keeper Dan Grimshaw and convert Yasser Larouci’s left wing cross.
Gray levelled in the 23rd minute with a technically brilliant right foot volley to meet skipper Lewis Gibson’s long ball from inside his own half.
Gray used all his experience to allow the sky high ball to drop over his shoulder before guiding it past Daniel Bachmann, at full stretch in the Watford goal, in at the far post.
Central defender Ryan Porteous made it 2-1 to Watford with a fine finish steering home Mattie Pollock’s cross from the right as he slid into the six yard box.
Porteous could have put Watford ahead from a 31st minute corner, nodded down by Pollock into his fellow central defender’s path. But Porteous, side footed wide from close range through a crowded six yard box.
Argyle playmaker Morgan Whittaker came close to doubling Plymouth’s lead on 26 minutes with an audacious half volley from long range.
Whittaker’s shot from 25 yards plus whistled just past Bachmann’s post, with the keeper beaten for pace.
Striker Michael Obafemi then tried his luck, spinning to send a shot just wide from the edge of the box with a fine shot-on-the-turn.
Grimshaw did well to punch clear an inswinging Giorgio Chakvetadze corner before Watford scored their second.
Early in the second half Argyle’s on-loan Leeds’ midfielder Darko Gyabi tried his luck from 25 yards but his shot-on-the-run dipped just over the bar.
Grimshaw was forced into a good save, just under his bar, after Chakvetadze beat two defenders and let fly from the edge of the penalty area on 58 minutes.
Gyabi cut inside from the left in the 64th minute but his low shot was easily held by Bachmann, low down at his near post.
Matthew Sorinola’s cross from the right was just too far ahead of Gray, who made contact but could only glance his header wide in the 71st minute as Argyle pressed for a leveller.
Grimshaw made a great save with his feet to deny Bayo in the 78th minute after skipper Moussa Sissoko broke from the halfway line on the counter before teeing up the opening goal scorer.
Argyle had a lucky escape in the 16th minute as Larouci beat the offside trap and had time to cross from the left again.
Larouci’s pacy ball across the face of the Argyle six-yard box beat everyone, including the incoming Watford attackers.
SWSN Star Andre Gray
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