Pilgrims show they can bounce back from adversity

WHAT WE LEARNT FROM ARGYLE’S FIVE-STAR WIN AT DONCASTER

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

PLYMOUTH Argyle picked up their first points from a losing position in League One this season as they thrashed Doncaster Rovers 5-1 at the Eco-Power Stadium on Saturday.

It ended a run of 11 successive matches in which the Pilgrims were beaten after conceding the opening goal of the game. Doncaster took a very early lead but Argyle were 3-1 up by the 23rd minute after two goals from Lorent Tolaj and one from Owen Oseni.

Tolaj went on to complete the first hat-trick of his EFL career with a 73rd minute penalty before substitute Xavier Amaechi completed the scoring late on.

Cleverley said about the come-from-behind success: “It should give us a lot of belief. I think we have suffered a lot of pain and hurt this season and we have managed to come back from that maybe the next week, or the week after that.

"We have never managed to do it in-game. Today it’s a big box ticked. I don’t think it’s a surprise that it happens when the likes of (Conor) Hazard, (Joe) Edwards, (Joe) Ralls, (Alex) Mitchell are out there.

“They steady the ship, they keep the calm, they make sure one doesn’t turn into two. They know, eventually, we have got enough quality to show it."

The last time that Argyle came from behind to win a league game was in April when they beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship after late goals from Ryan Hardie and Muhamed Tijani.

Argyle had not scored five goals in an away game in 22 years, since they went to Port Vale for a Division Two fixture in October 2003 and hammered them 5-1.

David Friio scored twice for Paul Sturrock’s side that afternoon in the Potteries, including one thunderbolt from long distance. Also on target were Marino Keith, Steve Adams and Paul Wotton.

Lorent Tolaj’s hat-trick against Doncaster was the first for Argyle since Morgan Whittaker netted three times in a 6-2 Championship rout of Norwich City in September 2023.