Plymouth 2-0 Sunderland: Morgan Whittaker and Finn Azaz earn Argyle victory

Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Plymouth Argyle and Sunderland at Home Park on Saturday | Morgan Whittaker and Finn Azaz earn victory for Steven Schumacher's side.

Saturday 25 November 2023 18:49, UK

Plymouth got back to winning ways with a surprise 2-0 home Championship victory over high-flying Sunderland.

Another top-class strike from Morgan Whittaker and a superbly-crafted goal from fellow playmaker Finn Azaz put Argyle 2-0 up at half-time.

Try as they might, Plymouth found it hard to get out of their half in the opening 20 minutes but the game was turned on its head by a superb Whittaker strike in the 24th minute as Argyle made the most of a counter attack.

Luke Cundle, who was pivotal in both goals, had sent the ball down the right channel for attacking midfielder Whittaker to run at the Sunderland defence.

The summer buy from Swansea cut inside and let fly with a thumping left-foot shot from outside the box that flew into the opposite top corner, giving Anthony Patterson - at full stretch in the Sunderland goal - little chance.

The Sunderland number one was again left clutching thin air when Argyle surged further ahead on another counter attack in the 40th minute.

Again central midfield ace Cundle was instrumental in the counter attack, this time sending Azaz down the left flank with a measured pass, enabling the attacking midfielder to cut into the penalty area and place a shot out of the reach of the diving Patterson.

The home side had two let-offs either side of half-time as Sunderland twice hit the woodwork.

After 44 minutes Jack Clarke cut in from the left and teed up Jobe Bellingham, whose first-time low strike came back off the woodwork.

In the 54th minute Sunderland again went close.

This time Clarke's cross was met by Trai Hume, whose towering headed effort came back off a post, with home keeper Michael Cooper only able to watch.

Substitute Adil Aouchiche's follow-up flew into the side netting.

Sunderland continued to press, with Patrick Roberts sending an angled shot from the right just over the bar after the hour.

Another Clarke cross, from the left, was headed just high and wide by substitute Abdoullah Ba.

On another counter Whittaker sent Bali Mumba away from the halfway line and the winger's shot on the run flew just wide from the right side.

Sunderland hit straight back, with Clarke forcing a near-post save from Cooper after 76 minutes.

Fit-again striker Mustapha Bundu - on as a sub - should have put Argyle out of sight but fired over from close range after a superb run from Mumba and cutback from sub Adam Randell.

The managers

Plymouth's Steven Schumacher:

"Our home form is so important to us. When we get it right here and play with the energy and tempo we do, then we are a match for anyone.

"Sunderland started the game incredibly well, incredibly fast and we had to dig in and stick together to get through that tough period. It was similar in the second half.

"Then when we had our chances, we were clinical with them.

"If we could have taken one of those breaks that we created in the second half it would have given everybody a bit more room to relax but it wasn't meant to be and the clean sheet was excellent.

"Morgan is an incredibly talented player and we know that. We brought him here to create and score goals and that's what he is doing. He loves playing here, he loves playing for us and we are really seeing the best of him."

Sunderland's Tony Mowbray:

"We have to keep going, we work with the strikers every day, they (Plymouth) had two shots on target and scored both of them.

"We were pretty dominant during the game, we know they can score goals and they showed they can do that.

"We were a bit disappointed in the first half, we didn't get to the intensity we wanted and we needed to score in the first 10 minutes of the first half. We didn't make the keeper work enough, just not finding the space in the box to find the pass.

"Jack Clarke drove into the box about 30 times, but we were hitting the first man a few times and not finding the right player.

"We are a work in process, there are plenty of positives as well. They worked hard enough and we will not be harsh on them. We play five attacking players every game and we have scored 27 goals, I keep getting told a striker hasn't scored in 16 games and yet we have scored 27 goals.

"The way forward is to keep going, put the ball in the box and keep working hard and hopefully it will come."