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

Just a couple or hours remain for the transfer deadline day finale with Plymouth Argyle and Mansfield Town having very quiet days.   

John Sheridan has expressed his desire to sign a striker on loan but has not been so successful so far this January transfer window.  So far this January transfer window Sheridan has brought in two very promising and talented players.  Crystal Palace pairing Jason Banton and Matt Parson have both swapped the Premier League with SkyBet League Two.  Banton has signed an 18 month contract with Argyle until summer 2015, whilst Parson has signed on to the end of the current 2013-14 season.  Mansfield, however have not signed anyone during this January transfer window.  The reason being the club cannot afford to sign any players as they continue to fight legal action against former shareholders and directors of the club; Andy Saunders and Steve Hymas.  The pair are owned almost £1 million in loans during their time at the club.      

The last time both teams met in the league was on Saturday 26^th October 2013. The Pilgrims left it until the dying seconds of the fixture to score and grab all the three points.  A fairly even encounter was decided with a Neal Trotman header in front of the travelling supporters.  A perfectly amazing ball was delivered into the box by Captain Conor Hourihane.  Floated to the far post, one of his best performances in green, Neal unmarked headed straight into an own goal.  What a feeling, three points at the death. 

Both Argyle and the Stags have not played since last Saturday.  Plymouths fixture away at Newport and Mansfield’s home game to Bury on Tuesday evening both failed victim to the weather. 

Manager John Sheridan will be sweating over the fitness of some of his defenders for the visit of Mansfield.  Durrell Berry will be one definite absentee through a groin injury.  The former Aston Villa youth player was substituted at half time in the 3-2 defeat to Port Vale in the FA Cup third round replay.  Central defender Guy Branston will also sit out the SkyBet League Two fixture through a foot injury which he has aggravated.  The much travelled defender suffered a similar injury in the summer which kept him out in the opening stages of the season Unavailable for the game at Home Park is midfielder Andres Gurrieri, the Argentine will serve his second of a three match ban after being given a straight red card away at Rochdale.  This could mean a first start for winger Nathan Thomas.  The player has contributed in games which he has featured in from coming off the bench.  Mansfield manager Paul Cox has a fully fit squad for the trip to Devon.  Sam Clucas has returned to action and also Ben Hutchinson has returned to training. 

Available: Luke McCormick, Jake Cole, Paul Wotton, Maxime Blanchard, Curtis Nelson, Neal Trotman, Ben Purrington, Jamie Richards, Luke Young, Dominic Blizzard, Conor Hourihane, Nathan Thomas, Jason Banton, Rommy Boco, Rueben Reid, Lewis Alessandra, Isaac Vassell, Tyler Harvey

Doubtful: Matt Parsons (dead leg),

Unavailable: Ryan Lane (knee injury), Matt LeCointe (knee injury), Durrell Berry (groin injury), Marvin Morgan (knee injury), Andres Gurrieri (suspended)

SkyBet League Two - Rochdale vs Plymouth Argyle - Match Preview

Following an FA Cup exit to Port Vale in the Third Round on Tuesday, Plymouth Argyle return to League action, travelling to Lancashire to play Rochdale.    

Eight months previously Argyle were making the exact same trip in a totally different situation, was it relegation or league survival? More than 2500 fans made the trip to the Lancashire town.  All though the Pilgrims had lost 1-0 the trip was made worthwhile as the fans ran onto the pitch chanting ‘We Are Staying Up’.  No one could wipe the smiles of the faces of the members of the Green Army.

Rochdale are unbeaten in three games at Spotland, when Plymouth travel to town.  One very surprised victory at Spotland came in the Third Round of the FA Cup when they won 3-0 against Promotion contenders Leeds United in the Championship.  There last defeat at home was a 2-1 loss to Fleetwood on December 14^th 2013.  Plymouth Argyle are unbeaten in five league games, there last disappointing result coming away at Chesterfield losing 2-0.     

The January transfer window has been very promising for Plymouth Argyle.  In the space of ten days John Sheridan has brought in two very promising players to strengthen the current playing squad.  The latest signing to join Plymouth is Matt Parsons.  The former Crystal Palace left back joins his former team-mate at Palace, Jason Banton, to sign for Argyle in a contract until the end of this current campaign.  Jason Banton and Tyler Harvey will both return to the match day squad after missing Tuesday FA Cup Third Round Replay at Home Park. Winger Jason Banton had already participated in the FA Cup this season with MK Dons, whilst Striker Tyler Harvey was on loan to Salisbury City when Plymouth first played Port Vale. Returning to the starting line-up will be goalkeeper Luke McCormick, the 31 year old sat out Tuesday’s game to ‘cup’ goalkeeper Jake Cole.  John Sheridan will be without Durrell Berry, the defender was substituted in Midweek at half time due to a groin injury.  Rochdale’s Matt Lund is hoping to take part in the fixture this afternoon.  The midfielder picked up a knock in the win against Hartlepool last weekend.  In the event that Lund hasn’t recovered then former Plymouth Argyle player George Donnelly is set to take his place.                

Available: Luke McCormick, Jake Cole, Maxime Blanchard, Curtis Nelson, Neal Trotman, Andre Blackman, Ben Purrington, Matt Parsons, Jamie Richards, Andres Gurrieri, Luke Young, Dominic Blizzard, Conor Hourihane, Nathan Thomas, Jason Banton, Rommy Boco, Rueben Reid, Lewis Alessandra, Isaac Vassell, Tyler Harvey

Unavailable: Ryan Lane (knee injury), Matt LeCointe (knee injury), Durrell Berry (groin injury)

FA Cup Third Round Replay - Plymouth Argyle vs Port Vale - Match Preview

Third round replay in the FA Cup, can Plymouth Argyle make an upset against League One opposition Port Vale at Home Park, surely not.

Is it really to early to start to believe?

Argyle will go into the fixture on Tuesday evening unbeaten in six games in all competitions, two defeats in 17 for the team that sit eleventh in League Two. The visitors to Home Park, Port Vale have not won in their last three fixtures.  The last three points they gained was a 2-0 triumph at home to Rotherham United in the last game of 2013.

To get this far in the cup, the clubs have to get pass the test of the first and second rounds.  The Pilgrims travelled to Skrill Premier Side Lincoln whilst Port Vale made the trip to Shortwood United in Gloucestershire, they were through to the next round winning 4-0.  Argyle were to have a replay at Home Park as the full time result was 0-0.  Reuben Reid helped the Devon side, winning 5-0, scoring a hat-trick in the process.  Through to the second round, both teams were at home Argyle to Welling United and Vale to Salisbury City.  Plymouth came away 3-1 winners, Vale won also, 4-1 was the full time score. 

Before the replay was confirmed that Vale were to make the trip to Plymouth, players, management and supporters of Argyle were to make the trip to Stoke on Trent on a Sunday, the date Sunday 5^th January 2014.  The day was confirmed of a flick of a coin as Stoke City a Premier League Club was pulled out the hat first to play Leicester City at the Britannia Stadium on the Saturday also.  Just less than 600 members of the green army made the near 500 mile round trip to Vale Park.  The fans were sure to see a very entertaining game.  The home side were the first to make the break through just over 15 minutes gone.  Gavin Tomlin headed home from a Jermaine Myrie-Williams free kick.  Just before the half time whistle Port Vale had doubled their lead, leading goal scorer Tom Pope also using his head scored following a cross from Doug Croft.  Much of the visiting fans would have felt hard done by for falling behind as they saw Argyle dominate much of the first half proceedings.  Second half was underway and Plymouth had started of the better to the two sides.  Their hard work was soon awarded when Reuben Reid slotted home from close range from a Lewis Alessandra cross.  Game on.  Argyle was pushing for an equalizer.  Under 20 minutes from full time Ben Purrington scored his first professional and Argyles second goal of the afternoon.  The fans were really starting to believe what could be… Plymouth were inches away from winning the tie as Andres Gurrieri was unfortunate that his long range shot from outside the area rebounded of the post. 

Signed from Premier League club Crystal Palace on an 18 month contract, Jason Banton will be unavailable for selection to John Sheridan on the evening due to being cup-tied.  Opting to join MK Dons, a League One club, in the summer of the last year instead of the Pilgrims, Palace gave permission for Jason Banton to participate in the FA Cup.  Due to the rules a player can only play for one club in the FA Cup in that season.  This rule will force manager John Sheridan into a tactical change.  The most likely player to replace Banton is Nathan Thomas; the speedy winger came on in the 80^th minute for the player in the 1-1 draw home to Southend United on Saturday.  Another change Sheridan may opt for in the replay is to switch the goalkeepers.  Jake Cole has been the cup goalkeeper whilst McCormick has been the league goalkeeper this season. Youth player Ryan Lane will be unavailable due to undergoing a knee operation in the New Year. Lane has only appeared in one game this season and that was a pre-season game at Home Park.  As for Port Vale defender Jack Grimmer who is on –loan from Fulham has not been given permission to play in the FA Cup by his parent club.  Chris Robinson and Carl Dickinson both defenders are also expected to come back into the team for the trip to Devon.             

Available: Luke McCormick, Jake Cole, Maxime Blanchard, Guy Branston, Paul Wotton, Durrell Berry, Curtis Nelson, Neal Trotman, Andre Blackman, Ben Purrington, Jamie Richards, Andres Gurrieri, Luke Young, Dominic Blizzard, Conor Hourihane, Nathan Thomas, Rommy Boco, Rueben Reid, Lewis Alessandra, Isaac Vassell,

Unavailable: Jason Banton (cup-tied), Ryan Lane (knee injury), Matt LeCointe (knee injury), Tyler Harvey (cuptied)