Match Report

Report | Argyle 2-1 West Bromwich Albion

Ryan Hardie’s stunning substitute appearance turned Argyle’s game against West Bromwich Albion on its head at Home Park, as the Scottish forward scored twice to give Miron Muslic his first win as Head Coach. 

Albion had taken the lead via a substitute of their own, Jayson Molumby, who slid in to give the visitors a lead fairly late in the game, but Argyle immediately equalised through a penalty, earned after a hand had stopped Hardie’s shot, and which the number 9 dispatched.

Then, with two minutes of the 90 to play, Hardie had a shot blocked, but gathered the rebound and struck a decisive blow to give Argyle their first league win in almost three months.

And deserved it was, too. Spirit alone cannot win you football matches – but it goes a heck of a long way.

The game saw full debuts for Argyle’s newest acquisitions. Maksym Talovierov and Nikola Katic, both of whom had signed for the Pilgrims the day before, went into a back three alongside Julio Pleguezuelo. Tymoteusz Puchacz shifted to playing at his more natural left wing-back position. 

On the right of the back five, Matty Sorinola kept his place, meaning Bali Mumba was the one to move to the bench. Jordan Houghton and Adam Randell anchored the midfield, behind Callum Wright and Michael Baidoo playing as support to Mustapha Bundu. Conor Hazard continued in goal.

It was noticeable from the outset that the tempo of this game was very different to that of the previous Home Park outing, a 5-0 home mauling by Burnley.

This was a different Argyle, one akin to that which drew 2-2 at Sunderland last Saturday, but with even more zip to their press, a bit more starch in their tackles.

It was a first half not replete with chances and shots on goal, but what there was to speak of, Argyle will feel they had the better of. 

Randell was at the heart of two interchanges which almost resulted in an opportunity. From the first sequence, the home-grown midfielder linked with Bundu, the ball flitting back and forth between the pair before Randell got a shot away, although the flag had gone up to signal him offside.

Towards the half-time mark, Randell took the ball near the halfway line with a sublime first touch and drove forward. He fed Wright – onside, but only just – who got the ball caught under his feet and the chance was gone.

Seconds later, at the other end, Alex Mowatt fizzed an effort not too far off target, but this was a sign of what Argyle had limited their lofty visitors to. Callum Styles and Tom Fellows also had shots from distance, but neither troubled Hazard sufficiently that he had to make an attempt to save them. 

At the other end, Bundu and Wright were again involved in a decent attacking move, the former not only evading a tackle, but escaping a blatant foul to progress on the right flank. His cross found Wright, whose stooping header was deflected wide.

Albion had an opportunity early in the second period, sending in a corner which Mason Holgate headed back across into a danger area. Mikey Johnson and Torbjorn Heggem attempted to pounce, but Hazard dived onto and held the ball, like a possessive kitten with its precious ball of wool.

It would be unfair to suggest that West Brom were the only side trying to play, because Argyle had plenty of nice exchanges, but the game was a clash of styles in the sense that this new, up-tempo Argyle's main focus was stopping the more considered West Brom from playing their way through the green swarm. On occasions, they almost managed it, but were typically met by Pilgrims renewing the battle.

On 63 minutes, Tony Mowbray refreshed his line-up with three substitutes, bringing on Karlan Grant, Jayson Molumby and Isaac Price, and the latter went close when a stinging drive from 20 yards, after a long throw had been ejected from the area, went not far over. 

Argyle made a double change of their own, Ryan Hardie and Michael Obafemi replacing Bundu and Wright, but a few minutes later it was Albion who took the lead.

Neat play down the right saw Jed Wallace arrow his way into the area, and as he was closed down, he squared to Molumby, arriving in the six-yard box, with the simplest task of forcing the ball over the line.

Cue Albion delirium – but it was short-lived.

Argyle advanced on the left, with Puchacz crossing into the area. Eventually, the ball found Hardie, who drove in a left-footed shot. It was blocked by the arm of Styles, and referee Dean Whitestone pointed to the spot.

This was game 234 for Hardie in an Argyle shirt, drawing him level with Joe Edwards as the members of the current squad who have made the most appearances for the Greens. In 13 of those matches, Hardie would have looked back to see Alex Palmer as his goalkeeper. Now, he saw that same figure looming over him, trying to get into his head as he held the ball, awaiting the go-ahead to take the penalty.

Eventually, the whistle blew and, far from the maddened crowd of Baggies fans, Hardie won his personal duel, sending Palmer the wrong way, and drawing Argyle level.

Beaten by the penalty, Palmer kept parity for his side by making a tremendous stop. Hardie took advantage of a mistake by Heggem and ran into the left channel. He crossed and found Obafemi, who tried to go back across the keeper, but Palmer, with great agility, got down to repel the effort.

But Argyle were not to be denied. Their winning goal came from a superb throughball by Puchacz, in behind the Albion defence. It looks as though Hardie, on the end of it, may have just let it run too wide, as he gathered, had to come onto his left foot, and saw his effort blocked by Styles. However, Hardie industriously collected the rebound, shifted the ball onto his right foot, and drove accurately into the bottom corner. 

Oh – and Dry January has just finished, too. Enjoy your weekend, Pilgrims. 

Bring on the best team in Europe… 

Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard, 4 Jordan Houghton (18 Darko Gyabi, 85), 5 Julio Pleguezuelo, 11 Callum Wright (9 Ryan Hardie, 70), 15 Mustapha Bundu (14 Michael Obafemi, 70), 17 Tymoteusz Puchacz, 20 Adam Randell (capt), 25 Nikola Katic (44 Victor Palsson 77), 29 Matty Sorinola, 30 Michael Baidoo (28 Rami Al Hajj, half-time), 40 Maksym Talovierov. Substitutes: 31 Daniel Grimshaw (gk), 2 Bali Mumba, 3 Nathanael Ogbeta, 26 Muhamed Tijani.

Goals: Hardie pen 77, 88

West Bromwich Albion: 1 Alex Palmer, 2 Darnell Furlong, 3 Mason Holgate, 4 Callum Styles, 7 Jed Wallace (capt, 17 Ousmane Diakite, 84), 10 John Swift (8 Jayson Molumby, 63) 11 Grady Diangana (44 Devante Cole, 90), 14 Torbjorn Heggem, 22 Mikey Johnston (18 Karlan Grant, 63), 27 Alex Mowatt, 31 Tom Fellows (21 Isaac Price, 63). Substitutes: 23 Joe Wildsmith (gk), 5 Kyle Bartley, 24 Gianluca Frabotta, 34 Harry Whitwell.

Goals: Molumby 74

Booked: Wallace 77

Attendance: 16,870 (1,735 away) 

Referee: Dean Whitestone