Plymouth Argyle 6-2 Norwich City: Pilgrims impress against sorry Canaries
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Morgan Whittaker's first-half double contributed to Norwich conceding four first-half goals for the first time since a 5-1 loss at Middlesbrough in April
Plymouth Argyle scored six goals in a Championship match for the first time in more than 36 years as they thrashed Norwich City at Home Park.
Morgan Whittaker - one of six players recalled after the 4-1 midweek loss at Bristol City - put Argyle ahead early on before Dan Scarr got a second from six yards out.
Whittaker and Finn Azaz both scored in first-half stoppage time to stun the Canaries, who conceded four goals in a half for the first time since mid-April.
Having missed a chance soon after the restart Whittaker got his hat-trick from close range after an hour before Adam Idah scored twice for the Canaries in the final 20 minutes.
Substitute Luke Cundle made it six in stoppage time as Argyle scored their highest number of goals in a second-tier game since a 6-1 win over Huddersfield Town on 22 August 1987.
The win - a second in six games - lifts the Pilgrims up to 11th place in the table, while Norwich slip to sixth place.
Having unsuccessfully made seven changes on Tuesday Argyle boss Steven Schumacher made six here, restoring first-choice players such as Whittaker, Ryan Hardie, Adam Randell and ex-Norwich player Bali Mumba - as he switched to three central defenders.
It was a switch that undoubtedly worked as, after efforts from Hardie and Randell, the pair combined to set up the opener.
Randell headed forward and Hardie cleverly let the ball run for Whittaker - who dropped a shoulder and shot low between a defender's legs and into the corner.
Azaz's teasing ball from the right was then touched on to the crossbar by Lewis Gibson, and fellow centre-back Scarr was there to slot home unmarked to double the Pilgrims' lead.
Hardie set up both of Argyle's goals in first-half stoppage time - first he raced to keep the ball in play on the right before playing in Whittaker, who curled a low left-footed effort from 20 yards into the bottom corner.
The Scot then picked up the ball from inside his own half before delivering to Azaz, and the Aston Villa loanee's superb footwork on the edge of the box opened up an angle for him to roll in left-footed with aplomb.
Whittaker should have got his hat-trick soon after the restart as his low effort was saved by Angus Gunn's legs after a three-on-one break.
But soon after he ensured he would be taking the match ball home as he turned in Azaz's low cross from the left from close range, before Idah pulled one back with a fine low effort after finding himself through on goal.
He got a second soon after when Mumba - who Argyle paid Norwich a club record £1m for in the summer - brought down Onel Hernandez on the edge of the penalty area and Idah blasted past Hazard from 12 yards.
Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher told BBC Radio Devon:
"I thought we played really well. I spoke earlier on in the week about how the performance on Tuesday night didn't look like us, it had been a while since a performance like that.
"It wasn't a hard fix of what went wrong, it was about putting in a bit more effort and getting people in the right positions and doing the basics right, which when we get that right as a team we always look a threat.
"I'm really pleased with the reaction from the lads, I knew we would get a reaction because of how honest the players are.
"For us to get a reaction the way we did and win the game in the manner that we did is really pleasing."
Norwich City manager David Wagner told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"It was a horrible afternoon to be fair.
"I think we have not done what we have spoken about what we would like to do, and the goals which we conceded we were just not good enough.
"Today it wasn't a problem of attitude or willingness, I think everyone worked hard, but the goals we gave away, we conceded four counter-attacking goals, a couple of further counter chances as well.
"It's something which is totally unusual for us, we played in areas where we should not play."