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It’s been less than two weeks since Wayne Rooney departed Plymouth, but if the Man United icon was following their clash at Brentford from afar on Saturday, he may have been left wondering whether that was the same team he said goodbye to just days ago.
Despite Rooney’s best efforts, he was sent packing when another defeat left Argyle rooted to the bottom of the Championship and without a victory in nine matches.
But it was the away form that proved to be particularly damaging for Rooney as his side lost 12 and won none of their 14 games, with his reign characterised by heavy losses on the road.
So when the FA Cup draw gave them a trip to Brentford, a free-scoring team with the second best home record in the Premier League, you would have forgiven Plymouth fans for hiding behind the sofa.
But, something was different in west London. Whether it was the boost of new manager Miron Muslic watching on from the stands, the warming presence of four-time interim boss Kevin Nancekivell or just the magic of the FA Cup, Plymouth were unrecognisable from the team that conceded 51 goals in 23 league games under Rooney.
The defence here were all available to Rooney – and perhaps their performances were a penny for his thoughts – as they blocked every ball and gave nothing away.
Rooney was sacked as Plymouth manager on New Year’s Eve as they sat last in the table
Plymouth are undefeated in their three games since, notching two draws and one win
They survived an onslaught from Brentford to snatch a 1-0 away win in the FA Cup third round
Even when Thomas Frank called his big guns off the bench in Bryan Mbeumo, Keane Lewis-Potter and Yoane Wissa, Plymouth held firm.
‘The players are maybe feeling a little bit of guilt at losing the manager and want to make up for it,’ an emotional Nancekivell said post-match.
‘The work was to be organised in our shape, make it as difficult as possible and have a little bit of quality when we got that moment. And Morgan produced that bit of quality that won us the game.’
It was indeed a ‘bit of quality’ from Whittaker, a star linked with the likes of Lazio, Atalanta, Rangers and Premier League sides, including Brentford, in recent times.
Plymouth have pledged to hold firm on any January interest in the attacker, but a match-winning display like this will only increase potential suitors.
Nancekivell said: ‘It didn’t surprise me when it hit the back of the net because he’s got that quality.’
‘Congratulations to Plymouth,’ Frank added. ‘They deserved the win. They defended brilliantly and scored a really good goal from the player we knew could score the goal.’