SkyBet League Two - Bury vs Plymouth Argyle - Match Preview

Plymouth Argyle’s play-off hopes have taken a step back after a 2-0 defeat to Oxford United last Saturday at Home Park.

Argyle will make the trip to Bury on Easter Friday before welcoming AFC Wimbledon to Home Park three days later on Bank Holiday Monday for the Easter fixture period.

The Pilgrims remain in ninth position after the loss to United who moved into the last of the play-off spots.  There is hope amongst the green army as there are only four points separating Oxford in seventh and Argyle in ninth.  With four games to be played there is still a lot to be played for in the League.    

Plymouth Argyle last trip to Gigg Lane home of Bury was in 2002 in the first round of the FA Cup.  The date was exactly Saturday 16th November 2002 in The Football League Second Division.  Argyle won 3-0 with goals coming from Micky Evans just before the 20minute mark.  Ten minutes later Paul Sturrock’s team had scored another from an own goal from Jamie Stuart.  There was still time for one of Paul Wotton’s spectacular free kicks in the game.

 The last time Plymouth and Bury played each other was in League Two on Saturday 21st December 2013 at Home Park.  Former Pilgrim Caolan Lavery, who was on loan to Argyle from Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday, scored the opening goal on the tenth minute mark.  Exactly four minutes into the second half Bury had pulled back level Chris Sedgwick scored from 20 yards betting keeper Luke McCormick in between the sticks.  Rueben Reid restored Argyles lead by slotting home from close range from a Lewis Alessandra cross.  The Devon club won the fixture 2-1.          

Manager John Sheridan will be without Maxime Blanchard for the Friday fixture.  The Frenchman was sent off in the early stages of the second half in Plymouth last Saturday.  Blanchard will serve a one match ban as he picked up two yellow cards. Lewis Alessandra is back in contention after recovering from a hamstring injury.  The 25 year old made his comeback in the defeat to the U’s.   If involved in the fixture Tope Obadeyi will come up against his former team mates.  The speedy winger has enjoyed two loan spells with the Devon club this season most recently Tope’s last game in a green shirt was playing in the Devon Derby on March 25th.  Pablo Mills will be looking to start for Bury after putting pen to paper on a new 12 month contract with the Manchester side.             

Available: Jake Cole, Cameron Dawson, Paul Wotton, Neal Trotman Curtis Nelson, Durrell Berry, Ben Purrington, Luke Young, Dominic Blizzard, Conor Hourihane, Nathan Thomas, Andres Gurrieri, Jason Banton, Rommy Boco, Lewis Alessandra, Rueben Reid, Marvin Morgan, Tyler Harvey, Enoch Showunmi, 

Unavailable: Luke McCormick (dislocated and fractured finger), Ryan Lane (knee injury), Matt LeCointe (knee injury), Matt Parsons (thigh injury), Jamie Richards, Isaac Vassell (both players on loan to Weymouth), Maxime Blanchard (suspended)

SkyBet League Two - Plymouth Argyle vs Oxford United - Match Preview

Five games left of the 2013-14 season where has it gone? Can John Sheridan guide his Argyle squad to the play-offs and even Wembley?

Following years of relegation fight and even administration most fans will agree this season has been very good indeed.  Three points of the last play-off place who would have thought that at the start of the season.  Saturday’s fixture against Oxford can decide who will get the deciding play off place.  The Pilgrims will have to aim for 15 more points if they were to get a play-off position.   

Plymouth Argyle and Oxford United will remember and pay tribute to those who were lost in the Hillsborough disaster.  All Premier League clubs, Football League Clubs, Scottish Clubs and Conference Clubs will all kick-off at 3:07pm in memory of the 25^th year anniversary of the tragedy. 

Resigning from his post as manager at Oxford United on 25^TH January 2014, Chris Wilder took over as Northampton Town manager days later.  Just short of two months later Gary Waddock, formerly of Wycombe Wanders, took over as manager of the U’s.  Since he’s appointment on 22^nd March United have failed to score or win three SkyBet League Two fixtures.       

The last time the teams met in the league was on Boxing Day last year at the Kassam Stadium.  17 year old Left Back Ben Purrington will remember this game especially as manager John Sheridan handed him his Plymouth Argyle debut.  Reuben Reid and Coalan Lavery scored the goals for the Pilgrims which earned them a deserved 3-2 victory in Oxford.      

Pedal for Pounds will also be coming to an end when the cyclists formed of Argyle fans right through to the staff at Home Park will be arriving back to Plymouth in time for the game.  The riders set of on a 220 trip from the Kassam Stadium on Wednesday to raise money for the Argyle Youth team and cancer charities.  Well done to everyone involved.    

Lewis Alessandra will return to the match day squad against Oxford United when they meet at Home Park on Saturday.  The winger has missed the last four matches through a hamstring injury which he picked up in the 2-1 home victory against Chesterfield.  On making his first full Argyle debut since signing a short contract on Christmas Eve Nathan Thomas will hope he will be in the starting 11.  Matt Parsons could miss Saturday’s fixture, the attacking left back is recovering from a thigh injury.  Signed on loan from Notts County prior to the Burton Albion game Enoch Showunmi will be aiming to make his Home Park debut.  Oxford’s Andy Wing could play a part in the fixture after recovering from injury. Players Alfie Potter and Johnny Mullins are ruled out of the fixture at Home Park through injury.       

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

Unavailable: Luke McCormick (dislocated and fractured finger), Ryan Lane (knee injury), Matt LeCointe (knee injury), Matt Parsons (thigh injury)