Marcus Harness had scored just once this season before this week - he has scored three goals in his past two appearances
Two Marcus Harness goals boosted Derby County's Championship survival hopes as they beat bottom side Plymouth Argyle 3-2 in a thrilling clash at Home Park.
The Rams led 2-0 early on - Harness gave Derby an early lead as he turned Maksym Talovierov and fired in from close range before Harrison Armstrong scored an excellent side-footed volley from the edge of the box after Argyle half-cleared a long throw.
Mustapha Bundu powerfully curled a right-footed free kick into the top corner from the left side of the penalty area 10 minutes later to give the home side hope.
And less than 40 seconds after the restart that hope became reality when Nat Phillips diverted Ryan Hardie's cross past his own goalkeeper under pressure from Callum Wright.
Bundu saw an 80th-minute free kick superbly saved by Jacob Widell Zetterstrom as the forward's effort appeared destined for the top corner.
But Harness - who has scored three goals in the last two games - side-footed in an 87th-minute winner from Callum Elder's low ball into the box with the Rams' first real effort of the second period.
The win sees Derby one point from safety in 22nd place, but Argyle's survival hopes look all but gone.
Plymouth are six points adrift with eight games to go and still have to face leaders Leeds United, second placed Sheffield united and play-off chasing Middlesbrough, Coventry City and Watford.
Nat Phillips' own goal brought Plymouth Argyle level
Argyle went close inside the opening 10 minutes when Matt Clarke diverted Bali Mumba's low cross just past his own post as the home side started well.
But their good work was undone when Harness controlled Kane Wilson's long throw and eased past Ukrainian defender Talovierov for his opener to send the away end wild.
Harness had a second effort ruled out for a foul on goalkeeper Conor Hazard 12 minutes later as the Rams began to take command of the game.
Plymouth have been accused of being too quick to collapse after going a goal down, and Derby only had to wait a few more minutes for their second - the home side again failing to clear their lines and Armstrong provided a superb finish from 18 yards after Kornel Szucs' weak headed clearance.
But against the run of play Argyle pulled one back thanks to Bundu's superb free-kick from the right side of the penalty area, although a minute later Jerry Yates should have made it 3-1 whens he blasted over from 12 yards after another poor clearance from a high ball.
Wright - who showed energy and industry throughout his 63 minutes on the field – earned the equaliser as his pressure forced Phillips into an error which made it 2-2 while many were still taking their seats after the break.
The hosts impressed for the next half-hour and Bali Mumba had a shot well saved, while Hardie stretched to poke a Bundu cross just wide of the far post with 17 minutes to go.
Bundu almost scoredt a second as he blasted a free-kick goalwards that needed an excellent save from Zetterstrom to keep it out.
But Derby broke home hearts as Harness found Elder on the left and got on the end of his low cross to turn the ball home.
It was almost 4-2 soon after when Hazard did well to deny Kayden Jackson from close range as John Eustace guided the Rams to a third successive win – their best run of results all season.
'We still have a chance' - reaction
Plymouth Argyle head coach Miron Muslic told BBC Sport:
"We simply gave away two easy goals from throw-ins that we could not defend.
"When you're in a six-pointer and 2-0 down, we knew that nothing after the second goal would be easy for us
"But our response was positive and we managed to get back into the game and we found the right tactical approach and the right words at half time.
"With 10 minutes to go we decided to go all in to win the game and then the third goal is the summary of the goals we've conceded - we had three chances to clear the ball and get it out of the danger zone. It was the only chance Derby had in open play in the second half.
"As long as we have the chance we will fight for it. We did a lot of good things right today and those are the things have to believe."
"Right now we are all disappointed and we are all suffering a lot. Nothing is lost yet, we still have a chance."
Derby County head coach John Eustace told BBC Sport:
"I'm very proud of the effort of the group, I though we battled very well against a very difficult opponent
"Plymouth are really good at home so it's a great win.
"We've given them that structure with and without the ball and the players have been magnificent
"Coming into the game we lost four players for the season, the players who have come into the team have been magnificent."
Marcus Harness told BBC Radio Derby:
"It's incredible. We've worked so hard the last few weeks and I'm just buzzing to reap the rewards.
"To get three wins in a week is huge in this league, so I'm really happy with it and now we've got a bit of a break and hopefully we can connive it after the break."
