Friday, 26 April 2013

Rochdale vs Plymouth Argyle - Match Preview


Plymouth Argyle will explore the countryside and travel to Rochdale for the biggest game in recent years for the club.

The Pilgrims will need to be undefeated come 5pm on Saturday to avoid relegation to the Conference Blue Square Premier as they go into the last game of the 2012-13 season. The Greens, placed in 19th place and on 52 points, will have to win or draw at Spotland Stadium, in front of thousands of members of the Green Army travelling to the game from around the country. The players have even chosen to sponsor one of the coaches travelling from Home Park to the game.

10 years ago this season, now a premiership side, Swansea City avoided relegation to the Conference Premier on the last day of the season at the expense of Devon Rivals Exeter City.  Can Argyle do the same? In 2002, Paul Wotton, and former Argyle players clichéd promotion at Rochdale, winning 3-1 on March 26th. Now Paul Wotton and current players wearing the green shirt with pride will go to Rochdale on a completely different note.  Saturday they will be aiming for all three points to be a football league club next season rather than aiming for promotion. This season both clubs have already met in the division at Home Park on Saturday 20th October 2012.  The result that day finished in the Pilgrims favour winning 3-1 with former loanee Guy Madjo getting two and Andres Gurrieri adding the third.  Rochdale’s consolation goal came from Dele Adebola on 76minutes.     

John Sheridan, who will manage Argyle for the last time tomorrow after being offered a contract until the end of the season, by owner James Brent in January, will be without Warren Feeney and Jamie Lowry for the trip to Rochdale.  Warren Feeney has been out of the game since 12th January 2013; when Argyle played Morecambe at Home Park.  The striker suffered an ankle injury in the first half and is still recovering from that injury.  Midfielder Jamie Lowry, who was reunited with Sheridan at Plymouth, is recovering from an ankle injury that he picked during training.  Whilst defender, Jamie Richards, is unavailable as he is on-loan to Dorset club Weymouth Town.  Joe Bryan, Ronan Murray and Reuben Reid will all play there last game in a green shirt as they all return to their parent clubs after joining on loan from Bristol City, Ipswich Town and Yeovil Town, until the end of the season. Rochdale manager Keith Hill will be without Andrew Tutte and Rhys Bennett as they are struggling with knee injuries.        

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

Unavailable: - Warren Feeney (ankle injury), Jamie Lowry (ankle injury), Jamie Richards (on loan to Weymouth).

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