PERFECT GAME PLAN

STEVEN SCHUMACHER EXPLAINS TACTICAL SWITCH

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

STEVEN Schumacher declared that Plymouth Argyle carried out the game plan perfectly as they hammered Norwich City 6-2 at Home Park to bounce back from their midweek mauling by Bristol City.

For the first time this season the Pilgrims' boss went with the 3-4-2-1 formation which served his side so well when they won the 2022/23 League One title because he felt that gave them the best chance of beating Norwich, rather than the 4-3-3 set-up used for all their previous Championship matches.

Argyle did not just beat Norwich they did it with an attacking display of high quality, capped by a hat-trick from Morgan Whittaker, as well as goals from Dan Scarr, Finn Azaz and substitute Luke Cundle, as they put their 4-1 defeat by Bristol City at Ashton Gate firmly behind them.

Schumacher said: "I thought we played really well. I spoke earlier on in the week about the performance on Tuesday night didn't look like us, it didn't look like our team. It had been a while since we have had a performance like that, and we felt we could do something about it.

"It wasn't a hard fix really of what went wrong on Tuesday night. It was just about putting in a bit more effort and, obviously, getting people in the right position and doing the basics right.

"When we get that right as a team we always look a threat, so I'm really pleased with the reaction from the lads. I knew we would get a reaction because of how honest the players are, and the staff.