Argyle stutter after cup mauling

A drubbing in the first round of the FA Cup preceded a stuttering run of form in the league for the Pilgrims in the lead up to Christmas. CHRIS ERRINGTON continues the story of what would turn out to be an incredible season

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

ALL seemed to be going serenely for Plymouth Argyle, sitting proudly at the top of League One with 41 points from just 17 games, four clear of second-placed Ipswich Town, as they went into a much quieter November for them after a very hectic period of matches.

The Pilgrims played just four times during the month but it still proved to be eventful, not least with their FA Cup first round tie away to Grimsby Town.

Given the distance from Plymouth to far away north Lincolnshire, and after their superb recent results, the Pilgrims’ squad were treated to a private plane flight the day before the match.

Argyle, the top-ranked club in the competition at that stage given their league position, were expected to beat their League Two hosts with some ease.

They seemed to be on the way to doing that when midfielder Adam Randell gave them the lead with a fine fifth minute strike at Blundell Park. However, by half-time, the shellshocked Pilgrims were trailing 4-1 after a shocking defensive display at set pieces and had lost wingback Conor Grant and Dan Scarr to injuries which would keep them out of action for some time.

When Brendan Kiernan made it 5-1 in the 58th minute it looked like the Pilgrims would end up conceding a few more but that was the way the scoreline stayed until the final whistle.

Grimsby used that remarkable win as a springboard to incredible success in the FA Cup, beating higher division opposition all the way through to the quarter-finals, where they were eventually beaten 5-0 away to Premier League club Brighton and Hove Albion.