CHAMPIONSHIP Plymouth Argyle 5 Millwall 1
- Details
- Last Updated on Thursday, 13 February 2025 06:47
- Published on Wednesday, 12 February 2025 22:33
- Written by ROSS REID at Home Park
The win – and Luton’s 2-0 defeat at Sunderland – enabled Argyle to move off the bottom of the Championship table.
Argyle’s FA Cup heroes made a stunning start against Alex Neil's in-form Millwall with two goals inside the opening 10 minutes.
Greens boss Muslic was forced to make three changes to the side which famously knocked Premier League leaders Liverpool out of the cup 1-0 to earn a fifth round trip to Manchester City.
The changes did not seem to affect Argyle who swept into a sixth minute lead when Callum Wright’s cross from the left wing was turned into his own goal by Millwall defender Joe Bryan.
The cross was intended for Sunday’s goal hero Ryan Hardie, at the near post, but the centre forward failed to get a good connection.
Four minutes later, Argyle were 2-0 up.
Victor Palsson’s throw-in from the right was initially headed clear by Mihailo Ivanovic but as home skipper Adam Randell went to head the ball, defender Casper De Norre fouled Randell and on-the-spot referee Jeremy Simpson pointed to the spot.
Hardie, who scored from the spot against Liverpool, made it three successful penalty conversions in three matches, hammering home past recalled Millwall number one Lukas Jensen in the 10th minute.
The in-form Lions roared back with Ivanovic’s header from a corner forcing Conor Hazard to tip the ball over the top corner of his goal.
Millwall record signing Camiel Neghli forced a brilliant one-handed save from Hazard on 18 minutes with a thumping 25 yard shot which sent the home keeper full stretch.
Hardie came close to doubling his tally in the 41st minute with a scorching shot from the edge of the box which flew just past the post following recalled Jordan Houghton’s defence-splitting pass.
Hardie didn’t have to wait too long.
Argyle went 3-0 up in the 53rd minute when Palsson headed forward to Mustapha Bundu 12 yards out on the right hand side of the penalty box.
The newly converted striker spun on the ball, losing marker and Millwall skipper Jake Cooper, before firing low and hard into the far corner past outstretched Jensen.
Three minutes later, Hardie claimed his second goal of the match and fifth in three games.
The Scottish striker latched on to a back pass from George Saville and sped past Cooper before side footing home past Jensen, again in the far corner from the right.
Millwall gained some consolation in the 80th minute when Bryan converted a far post cross from substitute Femi Azeez with a first-time finish from close range.
Sunday’s player of the match Nikola Katic added gloss to Argyle’s win with a fifth goal in the 86th minute, scooping the ball in, on the floor, during a goalmouth scramble following a corner from the left by substitute Rami Al Hajj.
Three weeks ago Argyle were booed from the field as they trailed Burnley 5-0 at half time.
Three weeks is a long time in football.
The turnaround is nothing short of a miracle.
SWSN Star Miron Muslic
Attendance 15,453
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