Report and free match highlights from the Sky Bet Championship match between Swansea City and Plymouth Argyle at the Swansea.com Stadium on Saturday | Morgan Whittaker returns to haunt his old Swans side to earn first away win of the season for the Pilgrims.
Saturday 3 February 2024 18:54, UK
Morgan Whittaker scored the only goal against former club Swansea to give Plymouth their first away victory of the season.
The striker - who left the Swans in a £1million move in July last year - scored in the 18th minute to give the Pilgrims a 1-0 win.
It was Whittaker's 17th goal of a profitable season and his ninth in his last 10 games as Argyle made it six games without defeat.
Back-to-back Championship defeats and a fourth loss in a row in all competitions leaves Swansea head coach Luke Williams still searching for his first league win since he took charge.
It also leaves the Swans just five points clear of the relegation zone.
Liam Cullen struck the bar late on, but Swansea lacked accuracy in front of goal and missed several good chances.
Both clubs had been active on transfer deadline day and their respected line- ups reflected their work.
Swansea duo Przemyslaw Placheta and Charles Sagoe Jr were among their substitutes, while Ronald - who joined the club earlier in the week - was given his first start.
For Plymouth, Lino Sousa - like Sagoe Jr, an Arsenal loanee - was named on the bench.
After Swansea's Ben Cabango had spurned an early chance by lashing a shot high and wide from the edge of the six-yard box, Whittaker gave early indications of his threat.
The deep-lying striker's opening gambit was thwarted when Nathan Wood blocked a shot, before Whittaker tested Carl Rushworth with a stinging volley the Swansea keeper just about managed to tip over.
From the corner, Plymouth fashioned a goal. Adam Forshaw started the move and then found Whittaker with a pass which the striker clipped nonchalantly, first-time, low into the corner from the edge of the box.
Swansea had already felt an injustice when a penalty appeal for a push on Ollie Cooper was turned down, but their failure to level before half-time lay with themselves.
New signing Ronald - a £1.5m buy from Brazilian club Gremio Anapolis - twice set up his team-mates from the right wing, but neither chance was taken.
Firstly, Jamie Paterson skied his shot over the bar. Then, Jerry Yates allowed Plymouth keeper Conor Hazard to save after the Swans striker met another accurate Ronald cross into the goalmouth.
It was the same story at the start of the second half as Yates mis-directed his header wide of the near post from the Brazilian's delivery.
If Argyle were riding their luck a little, they were also still looking dangerous enough to improve their lead on the counter-attack.
Just before the hour mark, Mickel Miller fired over the bar after two team-mates had shots blocked in a frantic few seconds.
Swans' substitute Placheta looked lively after coming on for his debut, but when the Polish winger created space for himself on the edge of the box, his effort was well clear of the bar.
Placheta then crossed for fellow substitute Cullen, but the striker was unable to beat Hazard from close range.
Swansea were now building a head of steam as Plymouth tired and came nearest to an equaliser when Cullen's dipping shot struck the top of the crossbar in the 84th minute.
Hazard also saved from substitute Charlie Patino in the third minute of added time.
Swansea's Luke Williams:
"I am frustrated that we didn't turn really good actions into goals. When you create 19 chances and at least four of them are in the six-yard box, there's not an excuse to not win the game.
"What is it that's wrong with those chances? For me, nothing. It's just concentration, finish the action correctly and we'll win the game of football.
"The goal we conceded, we lose concentration again from a long ball forward. Whittaker hits the shot that leads to the corner. Then, from the corner we switch off, the player gets blocked and it's a good strike.
"It's unfair that he (Ronald) doesn't have at least one assist. We tried to make it clear what his role is.
"We have had a few guys to interpret on the training pitch and I am really happy because he didn't try to do his own thing or show off.
"He just tried to play in the game I asked him to play it - so much energy, so many runs in behind. So many players don't want to do that because it's hard, you have to keep sprinting and then you have to provide for someone else.
"I want him to feed the striker. I am happy with him.
"I don't like that (relegation situation), of course I don't like that. We need to concentrate on trying to play really well.
"If we can create 19 chances every week and create openings in the six-yard box, we'd have to be a very unlucky team to suffer more.
"We have some tough fixtures but that's the job. There's no sulking or feeling sorry for myself."
Plymouth's Ian Foster:
"In my short time at the club, we have had to find a way of winning on the road. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices in order to do that.
"Our challenge is to maintain the attacking threat we have but from a really solid defensive structure.
"That was probably a perfect performance today in terms of doing that.
"Of course at times we have to get better with the ball, but we have to start somewhere. We have to get the points on the board.
"I have worked with Morgan in the England pathway, so I know what he is capable of.
"I took him and his partner for breakfast on Wednesday, the day after the club turned down a bid for him from Lazio.
"It was just to see how he is and see what we can do to help him and keep him focussed on his game.
"It's my job to continue to develop him into the player we all hope he can be."
