Anyone looking for an advertisement for the EFL should have been tuned into Ipswich Town’s visit to Plymouth Argyle this weekend. In a top-of League One table clash, Argyle once again came from behind to move to the summit. Both sides played some great football and it was a truly excellent affair.
Another Great Result For Plymouth Argyle Takes Them to First In League One
Argyle Rise to the Top of the League One Table
It is a rarity to be writing about third-division football on a Sunday, but there was a must-watch match-up in front of the Sky Sports cameras. Home Park, packed to the rafters, witnessed yet another exemplary outing from Steven Schumacher’s Argyle side.
No matter what took place down in Devon, one of the two sides involved was to end the week at the top of the League One table. Despite some very smart interchange in the first half from the hosts, Ipswich looked the most likely candidates. A rare chance came the way of familiar face Freddie Ladapo and a huge slice of luck led to the opener. His effort deflected off of Dan Scarr, then back onto his own leg, proceeding to loop over the head of a helpless Michael Cooper.
🙂 It is fair to say that Steven Schumacher has enjoyed the day.
👇 Read what the manager had to say about the win over Ipswich that sent his Pilgrims to the summit of @SkyBetLeagueOne ☝️#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) September 25, 2022
As has often been the case, the Greens didn’t know when they were beaten. Last weekend, against Portsmouth, they themselves shipped a late goal so as to drop two points. This time around Argyle came from behind in devastating fashion. First Bali Mumba and then Morgan Whittaker fired beyond former Home Park season ticket holder Christian Walton.
It is still very much early days, but going to the top of the League One table is quite something. The club’s budget is dwarfed in comparison to some of those around them, opponents Ipswich being amongst those bigger spenders in fact.
Read More: Plymouth Argyle and the New League One Season
Loan Players Shine Through Once Again
Praising loan players at Argyle is starting to sound like a broken record. A trio of them have been particularly brilliant and whilst Finn Azaz was away on international duty, the other two came to the fore.
Mumba and Whittaker are the duo in question, on loan from Norwich City and Swansea City respectively. The former hit the ground running and instantly endeared himself to the Argyle faithful whereas Whittaker began his time here on the sidelines. He impressed off the bench in the win over Peterborough United before scoring a superb solo goal in the crushing loss to Charlton Athletic.
Bali Mumba speaks exclusively to Argyle TV following the Pilgrims' 2-1 victory this afternoon against Ipswich Town.
In partnership with @TheTurmericCo.#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) September 25, 2022
Nigel Lonwijk is another player on loan who has grown week-in, week-out under Schumacher. The towering Dutchman got a chance following a James Wilson red card as well as fixture convolution. He may be just 19 but Lonwijk is so assured on the ball and brings a huge amount of composure to the backline.
Going back to Whittaker and his deflected effort against the Tractor Boys actually makes him the team’s top scorer. He was previously tied with Ryan Hardie, Niall Ennis and Finn Azaz on three, plus Mumba’s was his second having opened his account away at Forest Green Rovers. Not only are they performing in front of goal but alongside Danny Mayor, they both lead the team in assists with two-a-piece.
Freddie Ladapo Scores Against His Former Employers
The focus can’t all be about Argyle even if they did prevail. Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich are the subject of the final talking point, one man in particular actually. With six wins and three draws, they were previously undefeated. Freddie Ladapo was failing to contribute to this success though and so would have been relieved to open his league account in this one.
As was previously mentioned, Ladapo’s strike for the side formerly top of the League One table was hugely lucky. Whittaker’s winner had a deflection on it but nothing in comparison to the opener from the Ipswich forward. Alas, they all count!
There's an element of luck involved, but Freddie Ladapo won't care – he's given Ipswich the lead against his former side! 😲 pic.twitter.com/FkgiNRP5Ig
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 25, 2022
Ladapo had his most prolific EFL campaign in the famous green and white of Argyle, by quite some way too. He moved to Rotherham and did so in a manner that left a sour taste in the mouths of the Pilgrims’ faithful. After gaining promotion twice with the Millers, he ended up with Ipswich and is now off of the mark. It seemed inevitable that Ladapo would come back to haunt Argyle, but for their sakes, luckily it made no difference.
Keeper Walton came up for a late corner and was only denied but a fantastic Cooper save, something Argyle fans will be used to by now. It doesn’t get any easier for Schumacher and co either. A trip to Adams Park to face Wycombe Wanderers awaits before a mid-week face-off with Darren Moore’s Sheffield Wednesday. Meanwhile, Ipswich have a mouth-watering game of their own coming up as Pompey visit Portman Road.
Big win 💚✨ @Argyle pic.twitter.com/jaB3X5qnxr
— Niall Ennis (@Niall_Ennis11) September 25, 2022
