Following the disappointment of Easter Monday’s defeat to
York City, Argyle return to Home Park to face, automatic promotion chasing,
Cheltenham Town.
As it’s nearing the end of the 2012-13 season, Plymouth
Argyle and Cheltenham Town will be desperate for three points for diverse
reasons. The Pilgrims are eager to escape
relegation to the Blue Square Conference Premier, whilst the Robins are pushing
for automatic promotion to Npower League One.
The Gloucestershire side are currently sitting in fourth position, behind
Northampton who have a greater goal difference.
As for Plymouth Argyle they are placed in 22nd with 46
points, one place above the relegation line.
The last meeting between the two sides this season was at the
Abbey Business Stadium on Tuesday 23rd October 2012 where the
Pilgrims lost 2-1 after midfielder Conor Hourihane had given the Pilgrims a 30th
minute led. Since that result players have departed and new ones have come in
to wear the green shirt, a manger has also moved on. The past three results between Cheltenham and
Argyle have all ended 2-1, with the Robins taking all three points each
time. The last time Argyle and
Cheltenham met at Home Park was the last fixture of the 2011-12 season, the
match was played on 5th May. In
this encounter the players that were signed to Argyle knew the club was to play
in the football league for another season, avoiding relegation, and the Robins
knew they had a place in the Npower League Two Finals. They reached the final at Wembley but unfortunately
lost out to Crewe Alexandra. The result
at Home Park was a 2-1 victory for Cheltenham.
Former Pilgrim Steve MacLean had given the visitors a first half lead,
Juvhel Tsoumou on loan from Preston at the time equalised for the Pilgrims in
the second half, before Marlon Pack scored the winning goal straight from the
re-start. This fixture also saw goalkeeper Romain Larrieu retire from
professional football after serving 12 years with the club, making 292 appearances
in a green shirt.
One player who John Sheridan will be without, for the visit
of Cheltenham Town to Home Park, is captain Conor Hourihane, the Irish
midfielder was booked for the tenth time in Easter Monday’s fixture against
York City. The 22-year old will now serve a two match ban, the fixtures that’ll
he’ll miss will be Cheltenham’s visit to Home Park on 6th April and
Argyle’s trip to Burton Albion the following week on 12th April. Another
midfielder who looks very doubtful for this encounter is Swindon loanee Lee
Cox. The central midfielder suffered a
shoulder injury in the first half of the Devon Derby last Saturday and had to
be replaced at the start of the second half; Cox did not take any part in the
Easter Monday’s defeat to York City.
Cheltenham’s Russ Penn is look set to return to the squad, for the trip
to Plymouth, after being rested in last week’s fixture against
Northampton. Harry Hooman remains sidelined
for the Robins through a long-term injury.
Available: - Jake Cole, Rene Gilmartin, Ollie Chenoweth,
Durrell Berry, Curtis Nelson, Maxime Blanchard, Anthony Charles, Guy Branston,
Paul Wotton, Onismor Bhasera, Jason Banton, Luke Young, Joe Bryan, Paris
Cowan-Hall, Andres Gurrieri, Ronan Murray, Isaac Vassell, Jared Sims, Reuben
Reid, Nick Chadwick, Tyler Harvey, Matt LeCointe,
Doubtful: - Lee Cox (shoulder injury), Warren Feeney (ankle
ligament injury),
Unavailable: - Conor Hourihane (suspended), Jamie Lowry
(ankle injury), Jamie Richards (on loan to Weymouth Town).
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