Argyle get 2024 off to a thrilling start

AN OPEN GAME PRODUCES AN ASTONISHING 47 GOAL ATTEMPTS

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

EVEN by recent high standards at Home Park, Plymouth Argyle's 3-3 New Year's Day draw with Watford was an absolute thriller.

There were an astonishing 47 goal attempts during the game, with the Pilgrims having 29 of them, as the two sides set about attacking each other relentlessly.

It was a third draw in four games for Argyle under the interim charge of director of football Neil Dewsnip, and the second in a row at the Theatre of Greens after the visit of Birmingham City two days before Christmas ended the same way.

Watford opened the scoring early on through Edo Kayembe but the Pilgrims hit back to take a 2-1 lead by the 28th minute with goals from Finn Azaza spectacular volley and Morgan Whittaker.

Ismael Kone then curled in a superb equaliser for the Hornets before Ryan Hardie crashed home an unstoppable shot in the 42nd minute to make it 3-2 to Argyle.

The scoring chances continued at both ends in the second period but there was only one more goal, which came from Watford's Ryan Andrews in the 57th minute.

The Pilgrims have come up with some crucial last-gasp goals at Home Park recently and Azaz, Whittaker and defender Lewis Gibson all went close to doing that again in added time.

With four games in 10 days now completed, the full focus at Argyle can now turn to the appointment of a new manager. Whoever it is will have an exciting attack-minded team but will need to try to tighten them up defensively.

Hardie returned to Argyle's starting line-up against Watford after making his return from a concussion as a substitute in the 2-1 defeat away to Southampton three days earlier.

There were two other changes to the side with defender Dan Scarr and right wing-back Kaine KeslerHayden coming into the side for Brendan Galloway and Joe Edwards.