Whitt a way to go as magic Morgan fires terrific treble

STEVEN SCHUMACHER saluted Morgan Whittaker after his hat-trick helped Plymouth hit six in a second-tier game for the first time in 36 years.

The former Swansea striker, signed for £1million over the summer, grabbed his first-ever league treble to stun sorry Norwich.

Pilgrims manager Schumacher had urged his players to bounce back after a 4-1 drubbing at Bristol City last week and he got the perfect response. He said: “It would have been easy to let our heads drop after Tuesday.

“I wanted a reaction and that is exactly what we got.

“I am buzzing for Morgan. He has now got four goals and four assists and he will be pleased with his day’s work.”

The floodgates opened in the 15th minute as Whittaker steered past keeper Angus Gunn.

The second arrived in the 35th minute when Dan Scarr rammed home the rebound after Lewis Gibson had struck the crossbar.

Whittaker unleashed a thunderous effort past Gunn before Fin Azaz found the bottom corner.

And he completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute before Adam Idah pulled two goals back for Norwich.

But Luke Cundle had the final say for the home side.

Canaries boss David Wagner said: “It was a horrible afternoon for us.

“We totally lost our heads after conceding the first two goals.”

PLYMOUTH: Hazard 7; Pleguezuelo 7 (Gillesphey (90) 5), Scarr 7, Gibson 7; Edwards 7, Randell 7 (Cundle (87) 5), Houghton 7, Mumba 7 (Kesler-hayden (80) 5); Whittaker 8 (Butcher (80) 7), Azaz 8, Hardie 7 (Bundu (87) 5) NORWICH: Gunn 5; Stacey 5, Duffy 4, Gibson 4, Giannoulis 4; Sara 5, Mclean 5, Fassnacht 4 (Forshaw (46) 6), Ui-jo 4 (Placheta (46) 5), Rowe 5 (Hernandez (67) 6), Idah 6 STAR MAN: Morgan Whittaker – Ran the show and capped a stunning performance with three clinical goals. REF: Andrew Kitchen 8