Friday, 28 February 2014

SkyBet League Two - Plymouth Argyle vs Morecambe - Match Preview

Are Plymouth Argyle dreaming of Wembley, I would think so, 8th in the table, three consecutive away victories the highest position in many years.

The Pilgrims return to Home Park on March 1st 2014 to face 13th in SkyBet League Two Morecambe managed by Jim Bentley. 

Whilst Morecambe had a free week without no midweek fixture, Argyle made the long trip to Fleetwood on a cold Tuesday night.  Six points on the road from two game games, fans were dreaming, but it was turned into reality following a 2-1 win at Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday, the 149 members of fans watched their team run out winners at Highbury Stadium.  Reuben Reid set Plymouth on their way just after the 20minute mark.  The score line was made even better minutes after half time.  Luke Young fired a shot from outside the area and the ball made its way past Chris Maxwell into the bottom right corner following a slight deflection.  Two goals from the visiting team were still to come.  Maxime Blanchard headed home the third goal from a Young corner, getting in front of his man.  The best goal was jet to come.  A free kick was awarded just outside the penalty area.  Luke Young and Captain Conor Hourihane were both over the ball. Who was to take it?  Captain Conor Hourihane slotted home a top class finish in the top left hand corner, the keeper was well and truly beaten.  Argyle had won 4-0.  Fans couldn’t believe it.  Play-offs who knows.  

Current Pilgrim and former Morecambe attacking midfielder Lewis Alessandra will face many friends and former teammates this coming Saturday.  Lewi spent two years with the North West side.  Between 2011-13 Alessandra made 82 appearances scoring 7 goals in the process.  Signed on a two year deal in the summer of 2013 after rejecting a new contract with Morecambe, Lewis Alessandra reunited with John Sheridan, who gave him his footballing debut when at Oldham Athletic in 2007.  During his first season as number 7 at Plymouth the striker has made 32 appearances whilst scoring 10 goals in all competitions for the South West Club.       

Anyone remember last year’s game at Home Park? Days after being named Carl Fletcher’s successor, John Sheridan walked out at Home Park to enjoy he’s first fixture as he took he’s seat in the wooden home dug-out.  On Saturday 12th January just over 6,400 members of the green army turned out to watch Argyle come out 2-1 winners over the Lancashire side.  Two goals within six minutes gave the Pilgrims a two goal cushion.  Captain Conor Hourihane scored the home sides first on tenth minute.  Soon after Paris Cowan-Hall scored Argyle’s second that afternoon to give them a two goal lead at the break.  The Shrimpers did however pull a consolation goal back ten minutes from time but it wasn’t enough to take all three points away from John Sheridan.   

Weeks within joining the Pilgrims from Premier League club Crystal Palace, Jason Banton has been ruled out for a number of weeks due to a groin injury.  The attacking midfielder was substituted in the early stages of the 2-1 win at Dagenham and Redbridge the previous Saturday.  John Sheridan is likely to name an unchanged squad for the visit of the Shrimpers with no new injury concerns.  Morecambe’s Jim Bentley will be nursing the fitness of striker Padraig Amond as he is recovering from a hamstring injury.  Also returning to the match day squad will be Jack Redshaw who has recovered from illness.  A player who wouldn’t have travelled to Devon is Chesterfield loanee Jamie Devitt.  The 23 year old midfielder is currently serving a ban after being shown a straight red card at St James Park.        


Available: Jake Cole, Cameron Dawson, Paul Wotton, Maxime Blanchard, Neal Trotman Curtis Nelson, Durrell Berry, Matt Parsons, Ben Purrington, Jamie Richards, Luke Young, Dominic Blizzard, Conor Hourihane, Nathan Thomas, Andres Gurrieri, Tope Obadeyi, Rommy Boco, Rueben Reid, Lewis Alessandra, Marvin Morgan, Isaac Vassell, Tyler Harvey

Unavailable: Luke McCormick (dislocated and fractured finger), Ryan Lane (knee injury), Matt LeCointe (knee injury), Jason Banton (groin injury)


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