Ian Foster claimed his first win as Plymouth boss as Argyle came back from 1-0 down to earn a first win in six league matches with a 3-1 victory over Cardiff.
Perry Ng fired Cardiff ahead just 10 minutes in but Ryan Hardie’s double either side of half time and a fine finish from Morgan Whittaker secured Foster’s first win at Championship level.
Victory lifted Plymouth to 15th and four points behind Cardiff as the Bluebirds lost for the third time in four matches.
Ng profited as the ball bounced off home debutant Ash Phillips’ shoulder from a corner, leaving the defender with the simplest of tap-ins from close range to give the Bluebirds an ideal start.
Much changed Argyle could have responded in the next attack but Hardie’s whipped cross from the right just eluded top-scorer Whittaker as he slid in on the six-yard box but just failed to connect.
Whittaker – playing in a front two alongside Hardie – fired high and wide in the 22nd minute after good approach work by Bali Mumba and new signing Adam Forshaw.
Plymouth were level after 31 minutes when home debutant Alfie Devine, on loan from Spurs, cut in from the left and his cross was turned in from close range by Hardie.
The goal spurred on Argyle and Ng did well to cut out a cross from the left from Mickel Miller as the hosts gained in confidence.
Bali Mumba made a couple of superb runs and then set up Hardie’s second with an incisive pass into the penalty area. Hardie still had plenty of work to do but spun magnificently, losing his marker before rifling the ball in past Cardiff goalkeeper Jak Alnwick.
Argyle’s Northern Ireland keeper Conor Hazard did well to claim a couple of aerial crosses as City tried to turn the tide but still Argyle pressed.
Mumba was having his best home game in a while and was denied when his goal-bound shot was turned away for a corner by Ng. From the corner, Darko Gyabi’s header flew just over the bar.
Phillips and Hazard did brilliantly to stop City from scoring in the 79th minute.
England Under-19 skipper Phillips blocked Josh Bowler’s shot, then Hazard made a great save to turn away the City attacker’s follow-up drive which seemed destined for goal.
As Argyle scrambled to clear their lines, Hazard made another top drawer save to keep out a Jamilu Collins effort from the edge of the box.
Within seconds Argyle were 3-1 up, following a lightning counterattack.
The ball was played up to Hardie, who turned provider by putting in striker partner Whittaker for his 15th Championship goal of the season. The in-form striker swept home with his left giving Alnwick little chance.
Whittaker went close with a left-foot shot from the edge of the box and Hardie was denied a hat-trick by Alnwick’s near-post save in stoppage time.
Austin FC v Houston Dynamo: Olsen reveals 'tough conversations' as derby looms
Ben Olsen had to hold a few "tough conversations" to get the Houston Dynamo out of their slump, with Saturday's Texas derby at Austin FC offering them the chance for back-to-back wins.
The Dynamo approached Saturday's trip to Sporting Kansas City both winless and goalless in three MLS matches (one draw, two defeats), while they were also dumped out of the U.S. Open Cup by Detroit City FC.
However, goals from Hector Herrera and Ibrahim Aliyu handed them a 2-1 road win and lifted them into the top seven of the Western Conference – above Austin by a single point.
Speaking ahead of Wednesday's grudge match against a team that won the reverse fixture less than a month ago, Olsen credited his players for coming through a tough patch.
"I think some people were questioning us, and we've had a few tough conversations, particularly with the U.S. Open cup knockout. This was just a really good response," he said.
"We have to figure out when we are at our best, to think, 'who are we, at our best?'
"It was our defensive effort that we hung our hat on last year, so it's a bit of a renewed feeling of that being there."
Austin, by contrast, were on a run of four wins in six games before they were beaten 2-1 by another Texas rival in FC Dallas on Saturday.
Despite that reverse, centre-back Julio Cascante has praised the defensive work done by coach Josh Wolff, with Austin looking far more competitive than was the case in their dismal 2023 season.
"Despite everything, we've worked very hard on the defensive side," Cascante said.
"Emphasis has been placed on the defensive side, but defending is done as an entire team. It starts with the number nine. I think that makes the difference."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Austin FC – Sebastian Driussi
Driussi scored a consolation from the penalty spot at Dallas on Saturday, his third goal of the season in eight MLS starts.
Only Diego Rubio, who has started three additional games, has matched that tally for Austin this year. The Argentine will be looking to carry his team's attacking hopes again here.
Houston Dynamo – Amine Bassi
Bassi recorded his third assist of the season by teeing up Hector Herrera's 31st-minute strike against Sporting on Saturday.
All three of Bassi's assists have come on goals from outside the box this season – Houston's only three strikes from outside the penalty area.
MATCH PREDICTION – AUSTIN FC WIN
Houston have won three of their first five road matches this year, having only recorded more than three regular-season away wins in one of the last 10 campaigns, winning four times on their travels in 2022.
However, Austin have won all four of their previous home matches against Houston, netting multiple goals in each contest. The Dynamo are one of two teams – alongside Kansas City – that Austin have hosted more than once while posting a 100 per cent record.
Austin have also won three straight at home after only winning once in their previous 10 outings at Q2 Stadium. Back on home soil after Saturday's derby loss, they will expect a different result.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Austin FC – 44.9%
Houston Dynamo – 26.9%
Draw – 28.2%
Vilahamn wants to use FA Cup final defeat as 'beginning' for Tottenham Women
Tottenham Women manager Robert Vilahamn believes his side will use their FA Cup final defeat to start something special, rather than ending their good work.
Spurs were hammered 4-0 by Manchester United Women in Sunday's Wembley Stadium showpiece as Ella Toone and Rachel Williams were on target before Lucia Garcia's second-half double.
Vilahamn's side failed to manage a shot on target but the Spurs boss suggested his team will catch up to the women's elite clubs.
"The main thing I said was this is not the end, it is the beginning," Vilahamn said.
"We still have a gap between us and the top teams but that's normal. We are closing the gap but we haven't closed the gap yet."
Tottenham finished sixth in the Women's Super League as well as reaching this final, their first FA Cup showpiece appearance in their short history.
Vilahamn wants his Spurs players to use this defeat as motivation going forward.
"If you take away the feelings right now, you need to look at these players doing some incredible things this year," he said.
"We are at Wembley playing in front of our fans and they are actually enjoying it and staying, and supporting us after.
"We got a good experience today and we are learning how to play at Wembley more times. We need to look at it that way because the players are amazing."
Erik ten Hag: Man United fans are understanding of situation
Erik ten Hag is confident he still has the understanding of supporters after Manchester United's poor run of form continued with defeat to Arsenal.
United were beaten 1-0 by Premier League title chasers Arsenal at Old Trafford on Sunday in a game that saw them create little.
While United did well to restrict Arsenal's chances, they had just two shots on target themselves - long-rangers from Casemiro and Antony.
The Red Devils have had to contend with a number of injury problems this season, not least against Arsenal with a makeshift defence fielded.
And for that reason, Ten Hag - whose job beyond this season has been called into question - believes the fanbase remain supportive.
"They understand where we are and where this club is," he told Sky Sports. "We have so many injuries in key areas.
"The fans don't get what they deserve, but they understand this and that is why they are behind the team.
"I think that is why they are with us we are united. Hopefully we can pay them back in the future."
Ten Hag pointed out that United were without seven possible starters, forcing him to field veteran Jonny Evans alongside Casemiro at centre-back.
Casemiro was at fault for Arsenal's goal as he was slow getting back up the field, meaning Havertz was onside before teeing up Trossard.
Ten Hag, though, was not willing to point the finger of blame at the underperforming midfielder.
"In that situation he is a midfielder playing in that position and making a small mistake, but it has hard consequences," he said.
"Before that, in possession we could have done better in others positions. It's details."
Eighth-placed United have won just one of their past eight league matches in a run that includes a 4-0 thumping at Crystal Palace earlier in the week.
The Red Devils have lost 19 games in all competitions this season, which is their most since 1977-78 when also losing 19.
Asked if he believes he is the man to turn things around, Ten Hag said: "I have no doubt about this.
"Mostly, this team has the right spirit and they execute the rules and principles of the game even if they have to adapt in their positions.
"I can only be happy and it is a big compliment for this team that they executed all that they could and they were fighting."
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
