Port Vale vs Plymouth ARGYLE-Match Preview

Following the 2-1 defeat to Bristol Rovers on New Year’s Day at the Memorial Ground, Carl Fletcher was dismissed as the Argyle manager minutes after the full time whistle had gone by Chairman James Brent.  

Formally of Crystal Palace, Carl Fletcher took over in the Argyle hotspot after Peter Reid was sacked in early September 2011 by former Director Peter Reidsdale.  Fletcher’s first game in charge was a fans re-united encounter against Macclesfield Town at Home Park, whilst the Pilgrims were still in administration.  Plymouth Argyle had their first win in 9 matches when they defeated The Silkmen 2-0.  After two relegations in two seasons for the Pilgrims, it was Carl Fletcher’s job to keep the greens afloat in league 2, and so he did, a mission completed.  Spirits were high for the 2012-13 season when Carl Fletcher signed a one-year rolling contact for the term. After only 1 victory in 15 league games, Fletcher’s time with the Pilgrims came to an end on New Year’s Day 2013 after he had spent four years at the club, both as a manager and as a player.   

Plymouth Argyle will now focus on the game ahead, Port Vale away.  With no manager announcements until after Saturday’s game, long serving Romain Larrieu and Coach Kevin Nacekivell have been put in temporary charge of the Pilgrims visit to Vale Park, Stoke-on-Trent.  Port Vale’s last game came at home to Fleetwood on January 1^st.  Graham Alexander’s Fleetwood went away with all three points after the Lancashire side were victorious winning 2-0.

During this January transfer window former Scotland under 21 international player Alex MacDonald is very unlikely to make a permanent switch to Plymouth Argyle from Burnley after the removal of Carl Fletcher.  The player who has been on loan to Argyle twice in two separate loan deals will have to wait on what the new manager will say.  From Darren Purse being placed on the transfer list, he was able to find a new club.  Purse is expected to complete a move to Port Vale today, Argyle’s opponents tomorrow.  If they paperwork is completed on time Purse is unlikely to play against Argyle tomorrow due to him picking up a hamstring injury while he was with the Pilgrims.

For Kevin Nacekivell and Romain Larrieu’s first game in charge of the Pilgrims who knows what the starting line-up might be.  There are two players doubtful for their trip to Port Vale on Saturday, Robbie Williams and Tyler Harvey.  Striker Harvey has a slight calf injury, whilst Williams picked up a nock in Carl Fletcher’s last game in charge.  Argyle will be without one influential player Mark Molesley, he has returned to his parent club AFC Bournemouth after his loan with the Pilgrims expired after the Rovers meeting.  

Available: Jake Cole, Rene Gilmartin, Ollie Chenoweth, Durrell Berry, Curtis Nelson, Jamie Richards, Maxime Blanchard, Onismor Bhasera, Conor Hourihane, Jamie Lowry, Joe Lennox, Paul Wotton, Luke Young, Paris Cowan-Hall, Isaac Vassell, Andres Gurrieri, Jared Sims, Nick Chadwick, Warren Feeney, Rhys Griffiths, Jared Sims,

Doubtful: Robbie Williams (slight nock), Tyler Harvey (slight calf injury)

Unavailable: Mark Molesley (loan expired).