Lorent Tolaj and Bim Pepple both scored twice for the Pilgrims in their 5-2 rout of the Bluebirds and there was also a goal for Mathias Ross
18:22, 21 Feb 2026Updated 19:24, 21 Feb 2026
Final whistle delight for Argyle captain Joe Edwards and his teammates after the 5-2 League One win against Cardiff City at Home Park on 21 February 2026 – Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK
Here are the player ratings of Plymouth Live’s Argyle reporter Chris Errington from the Pilgrims’ 5-2 victory over League One leaders Cardiff City at Home Park. You can give your marks too using our special widget further down this story.
Conor Hazard 8 – Made a couple of excellent saves during the action-packed first half, tipping a close range attempt over the bar from Omari Kellyman when the score was 1-0 and showed great agility to tip a fierce strike from Petty Ng over the bar deep into added time, which had it gone in would have out Cardiff level at 3-3. Was not as busy in the second period but showed safe hands throughout.
Joe Edwards 9 STAR MAN – Set the tone for the aggression, intensity and tempo that Argyle displayed all game against Cardiff. Was heavily involved in the build-up to the opening goal when he broke forward and passed to Bim Pepple, who put Lorent Tolaj through to score. Edwards also provided the cross after another good run forward for Pepple to make it 2-0. Now aged 35, the captain has had many good matches for the Pilgrims over the years but this was right up there as one of the very best.
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Mathias Ross 8 – So many of the Argyle players have shown significiant improvement over the past few months and Ross is among them. Now fully up to speed with the physical demands of League One football in England the former Denmark under-21 international is starting to flourish as a determined defender. He scored with a superb header from a Ronan Curtis corner, just as he had done in the 3-1 win at Leyton Orient in the previous match.
Alex Mitchell 8 – Cardiff did create a number of good goalscoring chances during the game but given the attacking quality they possess that was not surprising. However, Argyle worked exceptionally hard in the second half to prevent them from scoring and Mitchell was heavily involved in that, as well as having a goal disallowed when he was flagged for offside after heading home a cross from substitute Matty Sorinola.
Wes Harding 7 – The loan signing from Millwall is taking one for the team in some respects because he is playing out of position at left-back with Brendan Galloway injured and Jack MacKenzie not fully match fit. Harding struggled defensively in the first half against Cardiff’s Ollie Tanner but he did have a much better second period and he did come up with an assist when Bim Pepple put the Pilgrims 3-1 up from his well-flighted deep cross.
Ronan Curtis 8 – The Green Army are absolutely loving the contribution of Curtis, who has provided a real attacking spark for Argyle since his transfer from Port Vale in January. His delivery at corners has been exceptional and for the second successive game Mathias Ross profited from that as he scored the Pilgrims’ fifth goal in the 81st minute by powering a header into the net.
Malachi Boateng 8 – Extended his record of starting every League One game for Argyle this season to 33 games and given his current form, and as long as can stay fit, there is every reason to believe he can go on to become an ever present for the whole campaign.
Brendan Wiredu 8 – Got a great ovation from the Green Army when he was substituted late on for Bradley Ibrahim and he thoroughly deserved it. Much in the same way as Joe Edwards did, Wiredu was an inspiration for his team-mates with the way he pressed Cardiff were on the ball and either won it back or forced them into a mistake and they gave it away.
Caleb Watts 7 – Should have put Argyle 1-0 up early on when he was set up for a clearcut chance by Lorent Tolaj but his shot was straight at goalkeeper Nathan Trott. Put in an excellent shift on the left of midfield in Argyle’s 4-4-2 formation but was booked late in the first half after a foul on Cardiff’s Perry Ny and that led to him being substituted at the interval to avoid any risk of him getting a second yellow card and being sent-off.
Lorent Tolaj 9 – Cardiff arrived at Home Park with a big reputation and their attacking play was good, but their defence simply could not cope with the pace and power of Tolaj and Bim Pepple up front for Argyle. When Tolaj opened the scoring in the 28th minute, he never looked like he was going to miss as he sent a first time shot past Nathan Trott. The Swiss striker then gave the Pilgrims some breathing space at 4-2 up when he converted his 68th minute penalty with some conviction after he had been shoved in the back by Calum Chambers.
Bim Pepple 9 – He came up with two excellent if very different finishes for his double strike against Cardiff. His first goal came when he swept home a perfect cross from Joe Edwards, and the second was a classic centre-forward’s far post header. He also had an assist for Lorent Tolaj’s first goal with a clever flick for his strike partner to run onto, and the penalty for the foul on Tolaj came after an excellent cross from Pepple out on the left flank. His development over recent months into a striker to be feared has been nothing short of incredible.
SUBSTITUTES
Matty Sorinola 8 – Came on for Caleb Watts at the start of the second half to play on the left of midfield and did so very effectively. Argyle did not sit back and try to defend their 3-2 interval lead, instead they looked to get forward whenever they could and Sorinola played a big part in that. He had one shot which was deflected away by Cardiff captain Calum Chambers close to one of the posts.
Bradley Ibrahim 7 – A second game off the bench for the central midfielder after his recovery from a long-term ankle injury, he took over from the excellent Brendan Wiredu in the 79th minute and a short while later Argyle went 5-2 up to put the game beyond their table-topping opponents.
Xavier Amaechi – Was part of a double substitution by Tom Cleverley in the 85th minute, being sent on for Lorent Tolaj for the closing stages of the game,
Owen Dale – Unfortunate to lose his place in the starting line-up after being part of the team which won away to Blackpool and Leyton Orient earlier in the week, but Tom Cleverley picked Lorent Tolaj instead of him and that proved a very wise move. Dale did get to play as an 85th minute substitute for Bim Pepple.
Substitutes (not used): Luca Ashby-Hammond, Jack MacKenzie, Julio Pleguezuelo.
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