Plymouth Argyle 2-3 Derby County: Argyle are harness-ed by the Rams

By Ross Reid

PLYMOUTH ARG 2

Bundu 38, Phillips 46 (og)

DERBY COUNTY 3

Harness 11, 88, Armstrong 26

Marcus Harness scored two as Derby County beat Plymouth Argyle in a relegation six-pointer, much to the delight of manager John Eustace.

Harness top and tailed the Rams’ win after he and Harrison Armstrong had made it 2-0.

Mustapha Bundu’s direct free-kick made it 2-1 at half-time, before an own-goal by Nat Phillips levelled the scores at the start of the second half.

And Harness scored in the 88th minute to secure three precious points and a third victory on the spin.

Proud

Eustace said: “I am very proud of the effort of the group.

“I thought we battled really well against a really difficult opponent.

“Plymouth are very good at home so really pleased to win.

“We had to stick in there, hang on in there.

“We started the game really well in the first half an hour, we dominated.

“The goal they scored was a fantastic finish, but a really cheap foul that we gave away and it gave them a lifeline.

“So to go into half-time 2-1 up was disappointing.

“The way we started the second half wasn’t good enough.

“Then we were under [a] bit of pressure, I don’t think our keeper had too many saves to make but you are always going to get pressure here.

“I was very proud of the way the boys stuck to their task and to score in the last minute was pleasing.

“It is a really difficult league and so much we have to keep improving.

“But to come away with all three points is good.”

Match action

Recalled Bali Mumba set up Argyle’s first scoring opportunity with a fifth-minute cross from the right after Derby failed to clear their lines.

Ryan Hardie sent the ball goalwards, but defender Matt Clarke made a superb interception to put the goal-bound shot around a post and away to safety.

In the 11th minute, Derby took the lead.

Kane Wilson’s throw was headed on by Phillips and Harness reacted first, spinning Maksym Taloverov before smashing the ball in.

Derby doubled their lead in the 26th minute following another long throw-in from Callum Elder on the left.

Phillips again headed the ball on, Argyle defender Kornel Szucs headed clear, but the ball looped to Armstrong who let fly with a brilliant volley.

Argyle pulled a goal back in the 38th minute when Bundu brilliantly scored direct from a free-kick wide on the left from an acute angle and in the top corner past Jacob Widdell Zetterstrom.

Second half

Plymouth levelled in the opening minute of the second half when Ryan Hardie’s cross was bundled in by Phillips under pressure from Callum Wright.

Mumba sent Zetterstrom full stretch at the foot of a post with a brilliant shot on the run from 20 yards.

Zetterstrom made a brilliant save to flap out another goal-bound Bundu free-kick.

Harness scored his second with a move he started and finished in the 88th minute, passing out wide to Callum Elder.

His pacy ball was met by Harness, who only needed one deft touch to turn the ball in.