Plymouth Argyle Stuns Brentford in FA Cup Upset

Plymouth Argyle, sitting at the bottom of the Championship, pulled off a stunning FA Cup upset on Saturday, defeating Premier League side Brentford 1-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium. Morgan Whittaker‘s 84th-minute goal sealed the victory, ending an 11-match winless streak for the struggling club.

The Pilgrims, who had not won a road game since April, delivered a disciplined defensive performance against a Brentford side that has been formidable at home this season. Despite Brentford’s dominance in the Premier League, Plymouth held firm and capitalized on their chance late in the game. Whittaker, cutting in from the right, fired a low drive into the bottom corner to send the away fans into raptures.

Interim coach Kevin Nancekivell praised his team’s execution of the game plan. “The plan this week was to be organized, to be in our shape, and to make it as difficult as we could for them,” he said. “I’m proud of everybody, and I’m pleased for the supporters. It’s a big day for us.”

Brentford, missing key attackers Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, struggled to break down Plymouth’s defense. Manager Thomas Frank admitted his team fell short. “You can lose, and then you can lose in a way that’s not top. We didn’t hit our highest level,” he said.

The victory marks Plymouth’s first win over a top-flight club in over 40 years and provides a much-needed boost for their fanbase. The club recently parted ways with head coach Wayne Rooney, who managed just five wins in 25 games. Newly appointed head coach Miron Muslic watched from the stands as his team secured a historic result.

Plymouth now awaits their fourth-round opponent, with Whittaker eyeing another potential giant-killing. “I think that’s what the FA Cup’s all about,” he said. “There’s always one upset, and I think that’s what we tried to be.”