Lorent Tolaj was the hat-trick hero as Argyle beat Doncaster Rovers 5-1 at the Eco-Power Stadium, in Sky Bet League One.
The Greens’ Swiss striker was back with a bang, finding three to help his side come from behind to win comfortably in South Yorkshire.
Owen Oseni and Xavier Amaechi were also on the scoresheet, as the Pilgrims gave the travelling away support one heck of an early Christmas present.
Tom Cleverley opted to make three changes to the side that beat Rotherham United last weekend.
Brendan Galloway, who is away at AFCON with Zimbabwe, dropped out of the squad; he was replaced by Ayman Benarous, who made his first league start since August.
Central-defender Julio Pleguezuelo made way for Mathias Ross, the Dane making his first league start in a number of weeks.
Lorent Tolaj came straight back into the starting XI after serving his three-match suspension, Owen Dale missed out and was not in the travelling squad.
This meant that it was Conor Hazard in goal, with a back four ahead of him containing Joe Edwards, Ross, Alex Mitchell, and Matty Sorinola, from right to left.
Joe Ralls partnered Malachi Boateng at the base of midfield, a partnership that was effective in the Pilgrims’ last match against Rotherham.
The two wide options were Benarous on the right and Bali Mumba on the left, the latter in a changed role following his spell as an attacking-midfielder in recent weeks.
The previously suspended Tolaj led the line and was supported by Oseni, who made his fifth consecutive start.
The hosts were quick to make an impression on the game, scoring the opening goal just four minutes into proceedings.
Doncaster’s chief creator, Luke Molyneux, escaped both Sorinola’s and Ralls’ pressure on the right flank. The winger looked up and picked out Hanlan in the penalty area, who had evaded his marker, Ross.
It was far too easy for the striker to slot the ball beyond Hazard, giving Rovers an early lead and giving Argyle an even greater challenge.
However, there was just as quick a response from the Greens, Tolaj marking his return to the side with a goal.
Oseni picked the pocket of George Broadbent in a dangerous area, dispossessing him and laying the ball off to the onrushing Tolaj. Argyle’s number nine made no mistake when one-on-one with the Rovers goalkeeper, threading the ball through the legs of Thimothee Lo-Tutala.
The goals showed no signs of letting up, and unsurprisingly, another came on 22 minutes, Oseni the scorer for the Pilgrims.
The move began with good work on the right from Sorinola and Mumba, who retained pressure well and found Boateng in midfield, he punched the ball forward to Tolaj on the edge of the area.
It was roles reversed, Tolaj laying the ball wide to Oseni, who had moved beyond him. The 22-year-old wasted no time getting his shot away, with Jamie Sterry quick to close him down, the strike a clever one that caught Lo-Tutala out at his near post.
Having taken an early lead, Rovers were clearly shellshocked to now be behind, and this led to continued complacency in defence.
The hosts’ high line was far more of a hindrance than a help on the afternoon, allowing Argyle opportunities to attack, which they continued to take.
The strike partnership of Tolaj and Oseni continued to cause Grehan and Jay McGrath no end of problems, the former scoring the Greens’ third of the afternoon, just two minutes after finding the second.
Tolaj was set through on goal by Oseni once again, and the Swiss forward seized the opportunity with both hands once again, sliding the ball beyond Lo-Tutala to make it three-one to the Pilgrims.
With the home supporters understandably disgruntled, Grant McCann’s side attempted to tighten up at the back, but to no avail. Argyle continued to dominate as the first-half went on, Tolaj and Oseni involved in everything positive the Greens did.
It looked as though Tolaj was going to secure a first-half hat-trick when Oseni rolled a dangerous ball through to him, but the outstretched leg of Lo-Tutala just diverted the strike wide, denying Argyle a fourth.
When referee Tom Reeves blew his whistle to indicate half-time, Argyle boss Cleverley would have been pretty content. His side were a goal down within the opening five minutes, but showed great character, resilience, and attacking quality to fight back.
McCann’s response at the break was to withdraw Harry Clifton from midfield and bring on central defender Matthew Pearson, facilitating the hosts’ change from a back four to five.
With Rovers in desperate need of goals, it was no surprise the game continued to be an open one, Argyle able to regularly find chances on the break.
The chances continued to be created for Tolaj, but the hat-trick-completing goal proved hard to come by.
That was until Lo-Tutala brought down Oseni inside the penalty area, after Boateng unlocked the Doncaster defence with an excellent through ball.
Referee Reeves had no choice but to award a spot-kick, and up stepped Tolaj to smash the ball into the bottom-left corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Tolaj wheeled away in celebration infront of the jubilant away supporters, having now secured his hat-trick, making it 14 for the season in all competitions.
Substitute Bim Pepple should have got in on the goalscoring action after Lo-Tutala parried a Tolaj effort directly into the path of the Canadian; his scuffed effort was easy enough for Rovers to deal with.
In the end, it was like a training exercise for Argyle’s attackers, with each move forward usually two on two, yielding plenty of opportunities.
Jordan Gibson had a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit when he took aim from just outside the six-yard box; fortunately for the Pilgrims, Hazard was able to palm the strike over the crossbar.
It would be Argyle that would have the final opportunity of the afternoon, substitute Amaechi rounding off an exceptional performance from Cleverley’s side with a drilled finish past a helpless Lo-Tutala.
The goal came after good play from Sorinola caused defensive chaos in the Rovers’ penalty area, Amaechi the beneficiary.
Full-time marked the Greens’ third consecutive away league win, also their third straight league win, home and away.
It will be a very merry Christmas for Cleverley and the squad after a five-star performance in Argyle’s final outing before the big day.
The Pilgrims are next in action on Boxing Day, when they face Reading at Home Park, and will be looking to continue their push up the table. Limited tickets are still available - click here to secure your seat.
Doncaster Rovers: 29 Thimothee Lo-Tutala, 2 Jamie Sterry, 3 James Maxwell (23 Jack Senior, 60), 4 Owen Bailey (capt), 6 Jay McGrath, 7 Luke Molyneux, 8 George Broadbent (33 Ben Close, 72), 9 Brandon Hanlan, 11 Jordan Gibson, 15 Harry Clifton (5 Matthew Pearson, 46), 27 Sean Grehan (14 Billy Sharp, 60).Substitutes: 1 Ian Lawlor (gk), 17 Glenn Middleton, 22 Robbie Gotts.
Goals: Hanlan 4
Booked: Bailey 62, Lo-Tutala 72
Argyle: 1 Conor Hazard, 2 Mathias Ross, 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 9 Lorent Tolaj(6 Kornel Szucs, 90), 11 Bali Mumba (20 Law McCabe, 90), 14 Ayman Benarous (10 Xavier Amaechi, 80), 15 Alex Mitchell, 18 Owen Oseni (27 Bim Pepple, 74), 19 Malachi Boateng, 29 Matty Sorinola, 32 Joe Ralls (4 Brendan Wiredu, 80). Substitutes: 21 Luca Ashby-Hammond (gk), 43 Sam Hayman.
Goals: Tolaj 12, 24, 73, Oseni 22, Amaechi 89
Booked: Ralls 62, Mumba 63
Referee: Tom Reeves
Attendance: 8,370
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