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Morgan Whittaker’s stunning late goal helped Championship strugglers Plymouth pull off a major FA Cup upset with a 1-0 victory at Premier League Brentford.
Thomas Frank’s side were not at the races at the Gtech Community Stadium prior to Whittaker’s solo 82nd-minute effort which sent Argyle, who had new manager Miron Muslic watching from the stands, into the fourth round.
Plymouth’s leaky backline, which has conceded 53 league goals this season, was not on display in west London as valiant defending from the likes of Brendan Galloway helped caretaker boss Kevin Nancekivell secure a memorable victory.
Despite a positive showing in the early stages from the visitors, Brentford playmaker Fabio Carvalho let fly from the edge of the area and his effort, which looked destined for the top left-hand corner, was tipped out for a corner by goalkeeper Conor Hazard.
Plymouth, bottom of the table in the second tier, went close in the 21st minute. Bali Mumba drove down the flank, combined with winger Callum Wright, who cut in and saw a shot from a tight angle parried away by Hakon Valdimarsson.
Rico Henry started his first match since returning from a long-term knee injury he suffered in September 2023, and the left-back was in the thick of the action towards the back end of the first half with multiple dangerous sprints in the final third.
Frank turned to the bench in the form of 13-goal forward Bryan Mbeumo after the break, but the decision was yet to turn the tide in the hosts’ favour as Argyle defender Matthew Sorinola headed over unmarked at the back post.
Yoane Wissa also came on as Brentford looked for a winner, but Frank’s rotations failed to pay dividends as they struggled to create anything of note against the worst defence in the Championship.
Brentford’s poor showing was eventually punished eight minutes from time when Whittaker, who was bright all game, produced a wonderful goal.
The forward retrieved the ball on the right, easily jinked past defenders before producing a driven finish into the bottom left corner in front of the travelling supporters to end Plymouth’s 11-game winless run.
