Teabags

Plymouth Argyle 3 (Abdou 23, Halmosi 26, Ebanks-Blake 58) - 2 Hull City (Windass 52, Windass 60) FAC3

Argyle are now making a habit of being in a cup longer than a teabag following a nail-biting match verses Championship rivals Hull City. In typical FA Cup play, Argyle looked much stronger and better organised than verses Cardiff for the first half at least, not least due to the changes imposed by Sturrock namely McCormick replacing Larrieu, Martin for Norris (ill), Nallis and Summerfield starting, and Doumbe for Timar (injured). The game ran mostly in first gear until the 23rd minute when a poorly struck ball from Hull following a free kick fell to Abdou who managed to steer it past the keeper. The Green Army had barely sat down before Halmosi netted the ball again straight from a free kick that was missed by Seip and thankfully Hull's guardian. By now Argyle had got into their stride and Hull had begun to wake up, culminating in a fantastic double save my McCormick on the stroke of half time.

It was Windass again who turned the game, maybe just the thought of him starting the second half scared Argyle, but they were not as spiritedly as before, and the midfield at time had nipped off for a tea break. It's no surprise then that Windass scored both of Hull's goals, but not before Halmosi set Ebanks-Blake up to make it 3-1. Even so it was Hull who looked more likely to score an equaliser than Argyle push further ahead, until Jutkiewicz shot hit the woodwork nearing the end.

So Argyle have, for the second time in as many seasons progressed beyond their first FA Cup tie and it will remain to see whether they have the legs to equal or beat their run last season. As always the argument between cup and league will rear its head; with Argyle's small (and getting smaller) squad, we shall wait and see.

The draw for the 4th round will be made on Monday at 13.30 with the match to be played on Saturady 26 January.