Brentford 0-1 Plymouth: Morgan Whittaker scores FA Cup winner as Premier League Bees knocked out by Championship bottom side

Morgan Whittaker’s late solo strike allowed Championship bottom club Plymouth to stun Premier League Brentford 1-0 in the FA Cup third round.

Plymouth sacked Wayne Rooney on New Year’s Eve and were without a win since November 5 but produced the first real shock of the FA Cup third round against a limp Bees side – in front of new Argyle manager Miron Muslic, who was in attendance at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Thomas Frank’s side failed to make their top-flight presence count and brought on Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa in the second half in an attempt to break the deadlock.

But that responsibility fell to Whittaker – once strongly linked with a transfer move to Brentford – who cut inside off the right and rifled in at the near post, via a deflection off Mikkel Damsgaard.

Brentford, who once had the best home record in Europe, have now lost three matches in a row at the Gtech Community Stadium. This is also the third season in a row in which the Bees have failed to get past round three of the FA Cup.

Frank: You can’t drop 20 per cent at this level

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank:

“Congratulations to Plymouth. They deserved the win. They put a lot of effort into it and defended brilliantly. They ran hard and they scored a really good goal from the player we knew could score the goal.

“We prepared to take Whittaker out but he got a good shot outside the 18-yard box.

“Massively missed opportunity. We are disappointed, you can feel that on me massively. But keeping a cool head is never as good or as bad.

“We didn’t create anything. There are always two teams on the pitch. Plymouth did well, they ran hard, defended with their lives and defended well. On the day, we didn’t have the right quality.

“I also reacted quick enough to get Bryan, Keane and Wissa on. Bryan and Keane had 36 minutes to create something but even with the top offensive players on the pitch, we couldn’t create enough.

“If you look in the first half, you could see how we reacted in counter-pressing and high pressure, we did everything right. But I need to see more in seeing the game back to see if there’s something, or if there’s a learning curve.

“If you drop yourself 20 per cent against any team at this level – and yes while they are bottom of the Championship, they are still in the Championship – then it becomes difficult. So maybe that was the reason.”

‘Brentford weren’t good enough’

Clinton Morrison on Soccer Saturday:

“Plymouth defended brilliantly and Brentford didn’t play well enough. [Thomas Frank] has given squad players opportunities but they’ve not been good enough to cause Plymouth problems.

“Brentford didn’t underestimate Plymouth, they were just not good enough. Plymouth were excellent. Brentford weren’t clinical in the final third.

“[Fabio] Carvalho isn’t good enough for me in this Brentford team. I know he’s not been playing football but he’s slow, he takes too many touches. They like to move it quicker.

“Brentford will be disappointed. Frank should have gone [with a] strong [team] because they’re safe in the Premier League.”

Analysis: Carvalho needs patience after slow and laboured Brentford start

Sky Sports’ Sam Blitz:

It has been a slow start to life at Brentford for Fabio Carvalho.

A lot was expected from the £27.5m signing from Liverpool who was starved of minutes under Jurgen Klopp, but showed plenty of promise at Hull City during a loan spell in the Championship. But the move has resulted in just three Premier League starts – and his latest test from the off against Plymouth has drawn criticism.

“Carvalho isn’t good enough for me in this Brentford team,” said Sky Sports’ Clinton Morrison, who used to play for the west London club. “I know he’s not been playing football but he’s slow, he takes too many touches. Brentford like to move it quicker.”

It is not the first time the 22-year-old has left Brentford fans unimpressed. The same slow play saw Carvalho at fault for Brentford’s second goal in the 2-1 loss at Chelsea. More points were lost when the midfielder missed a gilt-edged chance in the defeat at Fulham, with the summer signing costing his team three points on that day.

But what Carvalho needs to remember is that it takes time to get up to speed in a Thomas Frank team. It did not click immediately for the likes of Yoane Wissa, Mikkel Damsgaard and Keane Lewis-Potter, now all three are among the first names on the teamsheet. Kevin Schade, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Nathan Collins are among the other Brentford players to dip before a rise.

Carvalho knows the path is there for him to make a name for himself, he just needs patience.

‘If we perform like that, Plymouth can stay up’

Plymouth caretaker manager Kevin Nancekivell:

“This is what Plymouth Argyle is all about, it’s built on spirit and resilience. We’ve shown that in the last couple of games and the lads and the football club should take that going forward for the rest of the season, where we have a tough challenge to stay in the Championship.

“But if we put in performances like that, there’s no reason why we can’t accomplish the challenge of staying in the league.

“It’s just pride, real emotion. I’m pleased for the supporters who travelled up to watch us. They’ve not had a lot of joy watching us on the road this season and they can go home happy tonight. It’s a big day for us, so credit goes to them.

“I have not spoken to the new gaffer since the game is finished. I spoke to him last night, he very kindly introduced himself and I’m looking forward to speaking and working with him.”

What’s coming up?