Plymouth regarded unrecognisable from the facet that flopped underneath Wayne Rooney – after Championship strugglers surprised Brentford within the FA Cup, writes WILL PICKWORTH

It has been lower than two weeks since Wayne Rooney departed Plymouth, but when the Man United icon was following their conflict at Brentford from afar on Saturday, he could have been left questioning whether or not that was the identical crew he mentioned goodbye to simply days in the past.

Regardless of Rooney’s finest efforts, he was despatched packing when one other defeat left Argyle rooted to the underside of the Championship and and not using a victory in 9 matches.

But it surely was the away kind that proved to be notably damaging for Rooney as his facet misplaced 12 and gained none of their 14 video games, together with his reign characterised by heavy losses on the highway.

So when the FA Cup draw gave them a visit to Brentford, a free-scoring crew with the second finest house report within the Premier League, you’ll have forgiven Plymouth followers for hiding behind the couch.

However, one thing was totally different in west London. Whether or not it was the increase of latest supervisor Miron Muslic watching on from the stands, the warming presence of four-time interim boss Kevin Nancekivell or simply the magic of the FA Cup, Plymouth had been unrecognisable from the crew that conceded 51 objectives in 23 league video games underneath Rooney.

The defence right here had been all obtainable to Rooney – and maybe their performances had been a penny for his ideas – as they blocked each ball and gave nothing away.

Plymouth are undefeated of their three video games since, notching two attracts and one win

They survived an onslaught from Brentford to grab a 1-0 away win within the FA Cup third spherical

Even when Thomas Frank referred to as his huge weapons off the bench in Bryan Mbeumo, Keane Lewis-Potter and Yoane Wissa, Plymouth held agency.

‘The gamers are possibly feeling somewhat little bit of guilt at shedding the supervisor and need to make up for it,’ an emotional Nancekivell mentioned post-match.

‘The work was to be organised in our form, make it as tough as potential and have somewhat little bit of high quality after we obtained that second. And Morgan produced that little bit of high quality that gained us the sport.’

It was certainly a ‘little bit of high quality’ from Whittaker, a star linked with the likes of Lazio, Atalanta, Rangers and Premier League sides, together with Brentford, in current instances.

Plymouth have pledged to carry agency on any January curiosity within the attacker, however a match-winning show like this can solely enhance potential suitors.

Nancekivell mentioned: ‘’It didn’t shock me when it hit the again of the web as a result of he’s obtained that high quality.’

‘Congratulations to Plymouth,’ Frank added. ‘They deserved the win. They defended brilliantly and scored a very good aim from the participant we knew might rating the aim.’