Brentford 1 Plymouth 3

Last updated : 08 September 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Plymouth manager Paul Sturrock heaped praise on striker Micky Evans after he scored twice in a 3-1 win at Brentford to secure their first away win of the season.

Evans scored twice in the second half to add to a first half effort from Ian Stonebridge and wrap up an impressive victory in a match of almost a dozen chances.

A delighted Sturrock said: "I'm really pleased to get our first three points away from home and Evans was fantastic. If he could play like that every week he would be some player.

"He runs the line so well and always seems to flick the ball on to his partner but the only criticism people have ever had of him is that he does not score enough goals but he did that today as well." If it was a good day for Plymouth it was a terrible day for Brentford who looked set for a battle against relegation as they sit just one place off the bottom of the table.

Their misery was completed in the last minute of this match when Leo Roget was sent off for a late challenge on David Norris, but the problems started much earlier than that.

They could have been behind after just eight minutes when Graham Coughlan had a goal disallowed for a foul on keeper Alan Julian. And Plymouth did take the lead in the tenth minute when Stonebridge forced home a Lee Hodges cross.

Ben May did grab an equaliser for the Bees turning to fire home his first goal since joining on loan from Millwall, but it was all Plymouth in the second half.

They hit the woodwork twice and went ahead when Brentford wasted four opportunities to clear on the edge of their own area and Evans drilled home from 18 yards.

Plymouth's victory was complete six minutes from time when Evans bravely challenged Julian in the air from a goal kick and saw his header bobble in to the net.