Pilgrims have hope after Norwich win

A Ryan Hardie double has given Plymouth Argyle hope off achieving the greatest of great escapes in the Sky Bet Championship.

Almost since the opening day mauling at Sheffield Wednesday, the Greens have been written off in the scrap for survival, despite the sensational win over Liverpool in the FA Cup shining a positive spotlight on Home Park.

While there is still much work to be done over the remaining six games of the campaign, Argyle are now just four points from safety and the overall performance in defeating Norwich City 2-1, combined with last week’s battling draw at Watford, provides further evidence that the Head Coach Miron Muslic mantra is having an impact.

Hardie opened the scoring on 24 minutes, finishing with calm assurance past Scotland international goalkeeper Angus Gunn, and he repeated the trick from the very next attack, this time latching on to a loose ball to convert.

Norwich fought back with a goal from Josh Sargent within a minute of the restart, but any fears of collapse were quelled by a composed and disciplined second-half display from Argyle. Three deserved points in the bag and another huge game at Swansea City on Wednesday evening.

Exeter City were unable to recover from a sluggish start as they succumbed to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of promotion-chasing Stockport County in Sky Bet League One.

Kyle Wootton breached the Grecians inside two minutes, converting the rebound after an initial effort from Jayden Fevrier had bounced back from the post.

City were still in recovery mode when Wootton struck again midway through the first period, with the lively Tanto Olaofe striding through a static home defence to lay the ball on a plate for the easiest brace imaginable.

The Grecians needed some inspiration but Josh Magennis, so often the talisman this season, headed a decent chance wide from an Ed Francis cross seconds before half-time.

After the break, it was a demonstration in game-management from Stockport, frustrating City at every turn to run out deserved victors. Despite the loss, City remain a comfortable nine points clear of the relegation zone ahead of a midweek visit from Wigan Athletic.

Torquay United squandered a half-time lead to lose 2-1 at home to Chesham but still remain just three points off the top in the National League South.