Friday, 16 August 2013

SkyBet League Two - Cheltenham Town vs Plymouth Argyle - Match Preview


With both teams searching for their first victory of the season, Cheltenham Town will welcome Plymouth Argyle to The Abbey Business Stadium on Saturday, for the third league game of the season. 

 Argyle will be aiming to make it a great week for the Green Army after planning permission for Higher Home Park was given the go ahead on Thursday afternoon after hours of consolation by Plymouth councillors.  A victory at The Abbey Business Stadium will make it a fantastic few days on and off the field for The Pilgrims. 

The Greens will make the short trip to Cheltenham on the back of three defeats and looking for their first three points of the season.   Currently placed in 23rd position, the Pilgrims are used to looking at the bottom halve of the SkyBet League Two having been fighting relegation for the past couple of seasons. In similar circumstances, Cheltenham Town have only picked up a point from their first two league game of the season.  The Gloucestershire club are placed in 18th position on one point. 

The last time Plymouth Argyle and Cheltenham Town met at The Abbey Business Stadium was last season, season 2012-13, 23rd October 2012, where Argyle lost 2-1.  Conor Hourihane had put The Pilgrims 1-0 up on the 30minute.  Just under 10minutes later Cheltenham Town had equalised following a goal from Steve Elliott.  Mid-way through the second half Cheltenham scored again from a Kaid Mohammed goal on the 70th minutes.         

During the summer Cheltenham Town have had to let go, two if not the best players of last season.  Marlon Pack, a 21year old midfielder joined Bristol City on August 2nd after impressing the club following a trial.  The clubs reached a compensation fee in the region of £100,000 and joined on a 2 year deal.  Striker Darryl Duffy has also left The Abbey Business Stadium after his 2 year contract with the Robins was not renewed for the current season.  The Scotland born 29 year old who scored 15 goals in his first full season as a Robin has signed for Salgaocar FC in the Indian I-League after impressing on trial.      

 Following the tough decision Plymouth Argyle manager John Sheridan took the previous Saturday on which goalkeeper will play regularly, Jake Cole is look set to keep his place in the team.  Jake and Luke competed against each other to impress the boss on who should be the regular goalkeeper.  Defender Guy Branston who did not take part in Pre-season training or friendlies due to a calf injury and illness is set to be included in the squad that travel to Gloucestershire on Friday.  The central defender played 60minutes in a 2-0 defeat to Yeovil in a behind closed door friendly on Tuesday afternoon in Somerset. Also in the squad was Argentine midfielder Andres Gurrieri, who also missed out on Pre-season due to injury, played the full 90minutes at Huish Park.  Defender Maxime Blanchard will not be in the squad that travel to Cheltenham for Saturday’s fixture, the versatile player is on compassionate leave after the sudden death of his older brother and has returned to France to be with his family. Also missing from this fixture will be Paul Wotton, the 36 year old broke his rib on the opening weekend of League Two following a collision with goalkeeper Luke McCormick.   As for Cheltenham, manager Mark Yates will be without summer signing Jamie Cureton, who signed from Exeter City in the summer, after he dislocated his shoulder following a collision with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, on the opening weekend of the SkyBet League Two season, during the 2-2 draw with Burton Albion at Whaddon Road.  On Thursday Mark Yates brought in a replacement for the injured striker, Steven Gillespie arrives at Whaddon Road on a one month loan deal from Fleetwood.                   

Available: - Jake Cole, Luke McCormick, Durrell Berry, Guy Branston, Curtis Nelson, Jamie Richards, Neal Trotman, Andre Blackman, Ben Purrington, Andres Gurrieri, Conor Hourihane, Romuald Boco, Dominic Blizzard, Luke Young, Ryan Lane, Lewis Alessandra, Reuben Reid, Marvin Morgan, Tyler Harvey, Isaac Vassell.  

Unavailable: - Maxime Blanchard (compassionate leave), Paul Wotton (broken rib), Matt LeCointe (knee injury), Nick Chadwick (knee injury)

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