Friday, 29 August 2014

Sky Bet League 2 Plymouth Argyle vs Southend United - Match Preview

Plymouth Argyle are unbeaten at home this season in the league as they welcome Phil Brown’s Southend United on Saturday with Chris ‘Woody’ Wood from Bastille watching on.

The last time Argyle and Southend met was January of last year, the game finishing in a 1-1 draw.  Dominic Blizzard gave the Pilgrims the lead just after the hour mark through a deflected shot from outside the penalty area.  Argyle’s lead didn’t last long as Southend equalised through Kevan Hurst two minutes after. 

There will be a few familiar faces to the Green Army on Saturday as Phil Brown’s men visit.  Former Ivybridge Community College student Ryan Leonard will be leading his squad out, come kick-off against his boyhood club.  The Plymouth-born signed for Argyle aged 9 as a schoolboy.  Leonard spent 11 years with the Devon club before joining the Essex club in 2011.

Will Atkinson is another former Pilgrim who is most likely to be lining up alongside his former team mates. 
The midfielder was part of Peter Reid’s team in the 2011-12 season. Then on loan from Hull City, Atkinson made 22 appearances scoring 4 goals in all competitions.

The final ex Pilgrims is Conor Clifford who joined on an initial one month loan deal.  Then his parent club and Argyle had agreed an extension to his loan but the football league declined it due to the Pilgrims finical problem then. 

The midfielder who signed for Southend in 2013 made 7 appearances for the greens.      

A name which will ring fondly in the ears of the Green Army is Graham Coughlan.  Playing a key role in the Pilgrims promotional season under Paul Sturrock in 2001-2002, Graham spent four rememberable seasons in Devon.  During his first year Coughlan was named in PFA’s Division Three team of the year for the 2001-2002 season.

Making 177 appearances for the South West side, Coughlan is now the first team coach of the Seasiders, having previously been the assistant manager under former manager Paul Sturrock. The central defender retired from professional football in 2013 having took on the role in 2013 under Sturrock.

John Sheridan’s only absentee this weekend is 19 year old Matt LeCointe who has aggravated his knee injury that he suffered during last season’s pre-season fixture against Truro City.      

The news which fans didn’t want to hear was made after Matt had visited a second specialist this week. 

Jack Payne, David Worrell and Gary Deegan could all return for the Shrimpers as they visit Home Park on Saturday. 

Available: Luke McCormick, James Bittner, Kelvin Mellor, Ben Purrington, Curtis Nelson (captain), Peter Hartley, Anthony O’Connor, Aaron Bentley, Carl McHugh, Paul Wotton, Nathan Thomas, Deane Smalley, Jason Banton, Ollie Norburn, Lee Cox, Lewis Alessandra, Dominic Blizzard, River Allen, Tyler Harvey, Reuben Reid, Marvin Morgan


Unavailable: Jamie Richards – on loan to Linfield FC, Matt LeCointe (knee injury)

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