Southend United vs Plymouth ARGYLE-Match Preview

Following Saturday’s victory over Fleetwood Town at Home Park, Plymouth Argyle visit Roots Hall on Tuesday evening for the first of two consecutive games away from home.

Goals from Paul Wotton and Crystal Palace loanee Jason Banton ensured Argyle all three points on Saturday against play-off chasing Fleetwood Town, as the Pilgrims rose out of the relegation zone on goal difference.  The players now travel to Johnstone Paint Trophy finalists Southend United on Tuesday evening, a rearranged game from Saturday 19^th January where this fixture was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. 

Earlier in the season Argyle welcomed Paul Sturrock’s Southend United to Home Park, a fixture which finished in a draw after then on loan from Burnley Alex MacDonald, had given the Pilgrims a 50minute lead.  Paul Sturrock returned to a familiar hotspot in the South West after he had enjoyed two spells as Plymouth Argyle manager in the years of 2000-2004 and 2007-2009.  In this fixture the Aberdeenshire born former player and current manager faced one player who he signed himself whilst he was the Argyle manager in 2009.  This player was fans-favourite Carl Fletcher, after he was appointed player-manager in September 2011; the day after Peter Reid was sacked by then acting-chairman Peter Ridsdale after defeat at Roots Hall against Argyle opponents this evening.

Whilst visiting Roots Hall, Plymouth Argyle will face some very memorable faces that have all played for the Devon club.  Although he is ruled out of this fixture due to an Achilles injury former Argyle defender and current United captain Chris Barker represented the Greens from 2008-2010 making 54 appearances for the club. Barker moved to Southend on August 5^th 2010 to join up with Sturrock who had brought him down to Plymouth in 2008 signing on a 3-year contract from Queens Park Rangers.   Another former player who is on the books at Southend is Plympton-born midfielder Ryan Leonard.  During his time at Argyle he made one appearance for his home-town club, during this time he also spent time on-loan at Western-Super-Mare and Tiverton Town.  After being released at the end of the 2010-11 season by Argyle he went on trial at Southend.  During his time on trial he had impressed Paul Sturrock enough to offer him a one-year contact with an option for a further year.  So far Leonard has made 35 appearances scoring two goals. One noticeable face that has also played a huge part in Argyle's most successful seasons is current Southend player-coach Graham Coughlan. The 38 year old enjoyed 4 triumphant seasons as a Pilgrim making 177 appearances scoring 25 goals.  During his time in Devon he was the Division Three top goal scorer, he then followed that by being named Division Two player of the year in the clubs most successful years.  In the 2001-2002 season he had seen his named featured in PFA Division Three team of the year.  These players have all played under Paul Sturrock twice formerly at Plymouth Argyle and now currently at Southend United.

John Sheridan will look to name a un-change side when his squad of players walk out onto the Roots Hall pitch this evening. Anthony Charles is doubtful for the fixture through a slight groin injury that he picked up during the 2-1 defeat to Gillingham.  Implicating on this it will look set that Guy Branston and Paul Wotton will continue to partner each other at the heart of the Pilgrims defence if Charles is still struggling with injury.  Southend however have players facing late fitness tests ahead of the game, Defender Ryan Creswell missed the match against Torquay at the weekend due to a calf injury and will under-go a late fitness examination. Luke Prosser will serve the second of a two match suspension after he collected his 10^th yellow card.  Both Chris Barker and Mark Phillips will miss the Npower League Two encounter through an Achilles injury and a broken toe.  Striker Barry Corr is looking to make a return after missing the Torquay contest at Roots Hall through illness.            

Available: - Jake Cole, Rene Gilmartin, Ollie Chenoweth, Durrell Berry, Maxime Blanchard, Jamie Richards, Guy Branston, Paul Wotton, Onismor Bhasera, Jason Banton, Lee Cox, Conor Hourihane, Luke Young Andres Gurrieri, Paris Cowan-Hall, Joe Bryan, Ronan Murray, Jared Sims, Isaac Vassell, Reuben Reid, Nick Chadwick, Tyler Harvey, Matt LeCointe.   

Doubtful: - Anthony Charles (slight groin inury)

Unavailable: - Curtis Nelson (groin injury), Warren Feeney (ankle ligament injury), Jamie Lowry (ankle injury)