Hat-trick hero Whittaker stars in Argyle rout of Norwich City

MORGAN Whittaker completed a hat-trick as he inspired Plymouth Argyle to a superb 6-2 victory over a shell-shocked Norwich City at a jubilant sold-out Home Park.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

Dan Scarr, Finn Azaz and substitute Luke Cundle were also on target for the Pilgrims, who bounced back superbly from their midweek 4-1 defeat away to Bristol City.

It was Argyle’s third win out of four home Championship matches at the start of this season and took their points tally into double figures with 10 from eight games.

Argyle led 2-0 going into added time at the end of the first half but then really took control of the game with goals from Whittaker and Azaz.

Whittaker went on to complete his hat-trick in the 59th minute and although Norwich striker Adam Idah later replied twice for the Canaries, the second goal from the penalty spot, Cundle made it six for the Pilgrims in the closing seconds of the match.

Argyle manager Steven Schumacher reacted to his side’s defeat at Bristol City by switching to a 3-4-2-1 system for the visit of Norwich.

There were also six changes to the team, with Bali Mumba, Jordan Houghton, Julio Pleguezuelo, Ryan Hardie, Whittaker and Azaz all brought back into the team.

The quartet of Cundle, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Ben Waine and Lewis Warrington dropped down to the substitutes’ bench while Callum Wright and Tyreik Wright were not in the matchday squad at all.

Hardie led the attack for Argyle, with support from Azaz and Whittaker, while Joe Edwards and Mumba, the joint club record £1 million signing from Norwich in July, were the two wing-backs.

The defensive trio were Lewis Gibson, Scarr and Julio Pleguzuelo, who had been ruled out of the game against Bristol City after he suffered a mild concussion in the 2-1 defeat at Preston North End last Saturday.

Norwich were without 33-year-old former Argyle striker Ashley Barnes, who suffered a knee ligament injury in their 2-0 home defeat by Leicester City on Wednesday.