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.
- More of Saturday's EFL action
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.
Finn 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 the 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 did pull 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.
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsPlymouth
Formation 3-4-2-1
21Hazard5Pleguezuelo6Scarr17Gibson8Edwards20Randell4Houghton2Mumba10Whittaker18Azaz9Hardie
- 21Hazard5PleguezueloSubstituted forGillespheyat 90+2'minutes6ScarrBooked at 68mins17Gibson8Edwards20RandellSubstituted forCundleat 87'minutes4Houghton2MumbaSubstituted forKesler-Haydenat 80'minutes10WhittakerSubstituted forButcherat 80'minutes18Azaz9HardieSubstituted forBunduat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Gillesphey7Butcher14Miller15Bundu16Warrington23Waine25Burton28Cundle29Kesler-Hayden
Norwich
Formation 4-2-3-1
28Gunn3Stacey24Duffy6Gibson30Giannoulis17Gomes Sara23McLean16Fassnacht31Hwang Ui-jo27Rowe11Idah
- 28Gunn3Stacey24Duffy6Gibson30Giannoulis17Gomes Sara23McLean16FassnachtSubstituted forPlachetaat 45'minutes31Hwang Ui-joSubstituted forForshawat 45'minutes27RoweSubstituted forHernándezat 67'minutes11Idah
Substitutes
- 8Gibbs12Long15McCallum20Placheta21Batth25Hernández29Forshaw35Fisher42Springett
Referee:Andrew KitchenAttendance:16,469Match StatsHome TeamPlymouthAway TeamNorwichPossessionHome31%Away69%ShotsHome16Away11Shots on TargetHome10Away6CornersHome3Away6FoulsHome9Away6Live Text Post update
Match ends, Plymouth Argyle 6, Norwich City 2.
90'+9'Full Time
Second Half ends, Plymouth Argyle 6, Norwich City 2.
90'+7'goalGoal!
Goal! Plymouth Argyle 6, Norwich City 2. Luke Cundle (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mustapha Bundu following a fast break.
90'+6'Post update
Hand ball by Joe Edwards (Plymouth Argyle).
90'+4'Post update
Attempt saved. Finn Azaz (Plymouth Argyle) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Mustapha Bundu.
90'+2'Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Macaulay Gillesphey replaces Julio Pleguezuelo because of an injury.
88'Post update
Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
88'Post update
Finn Azaz (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
87'Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Mustapha Bundu replaces Ryan Hardie.
87'Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Luke Cundle replaces Adam Randell.
86'Post update
Przemyslaw Placheta (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
86'Post update
Foul by Julio Pleguezuelo (Plymouth Argyle).
85'Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
84'Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Julio Pleguezuelo (Plymouth Argyle).
83'Post update
Offside, Norwich City. Ben Gibson tries a through ball, but Gabriel Sara is caught offside.
82'Post update
Ben Gibson (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
82'Post update
Foul by Ryan Hardie (Plymouth Argyle).
81'Post update
Attempt missed. Gabriel Sara (Norwich City) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jack Stacey with a cross.
80'Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Matt Butcher replaces Morgan Whittaker.
80'Substitution
Substitution, Plymouth Argyle. Kaine Kesler-Hayden replaces Bali Mumba.
Page 1 of 5rewindpreviousNavigate to the next pagenextNavigate to the last pageforward
Source: bbc.com