Look out for: Newport County

Players

Derek Adams will have a selection dilemma when Newport visit Home Park on Tuesday evening in the Checkatrade Trophy, formally known as the Johnstone Paint Trophy. Gary Sawyer who limped off at the weekend in the win over Blackpool will be doubt, as what he sustained in that match looked like a pulled hamstring, which occurred when he stretched to clear his lines. Adams has got players to cover this position; Ben Purrington will be favoured to come in at left back. As this is a cup game; could the likes of Vincent Dorel; David Ijaha; David Fox; Craig Tanner; David Goodwille and Gary Miller all be recalled to the starting line-up having sat out previous fixtures.

Argyle will come up against two former players when Newport visit; Paul Bignot and Plymouth born defender Ben Tozer have had spells with the Devon club. Another former player in the squad is goalkeeper James Bittner, the 34 year old, who made his Football League debut at Argyle at the age of 33 in the 2-1 victory at York in 2015, having been offered a new deal by Adams the goalkeeper decided to rejoin the Welsh side as reserve goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach.

There are number of players to note in County’s line up who are worth a mention, Jon Parkin is one of these players, having dropped out the League to join Forest Green, the striker has joined the The Exiles on a year long contract and scored his first goal in the 2-2 draw at Hartlepool over August Bank Holiday. Another notable player is Joss Labadie, a known playmaker who was a bright point in a dire campaign for Dagenham and Redbridge who were relegated last term.

Management

Derek Adams and his management team have seen Argyle come back from their disappointing start to winning the last three fixtures, and this has energised, right down to the subs bench. Adams has stated “They are a good group, and if you look at the bench, the quality we have is very good. That is a pleasing aspect. I can now put on players as a straight swap; it’s good to have that. I didn’t have that last season.”

There will be another former player returning to Home Park on Tuesday, Warren Feeney who was named Newport County’s manager in January 2015 after the resignation of former Pilgrims manager John Sheridan, having been the assistant manager. The former footballer has represented his National side, Northern Ireland, at International level, by doing this Warren became the third generation of his family to receive an international cap, behind his father and grandfather. Argyle fans wont actually see him on the touchline on Tuesday evening as he serves a two game touchline ban, from an FA misconduct charge during their fixture against Luton.

Tactics

Following Argyle’s third win in a row, the team now comes into this cup game full of confidence, hoping they can string together a run in the cup, which will see them also play AFC Wimbledon and Swansea City. Derek Adams will probably make a number of changes, as previously mentioned affecting his tactics as a result. This change may be in the formation as well as personnel, Adams started with a 4-2-3-1 against Blackpool, and is likely to stick with this. If Adams chooses a change in formation expect a change to the traditional 4-4-2 or 5-3-2. As Adams explains, “If somebody goes in and does well, then they have got a good opportunity of staying in for the next week. That will not always be the case because sometimes we will change formation, but I want to have a good dressing-room.”

Opposition Tactics

Newport County’s manager, Warren Feeney expressed his disappointment in their 2-2 draw with Hartlepool in their previous encounter, stating that his sides finishing in the final third was “not there” despite them playing nearly all of the game against ten men. This will be a point Feeney will hope to see improvement on at Home Park. In the 2-2 draw at Hartlepool, Feeney was forced to make two changes due to injury, with Jamie Turley and Jordan Green sitting out. This resulted in recalls for Jon Parkin and Paul Bignot.

Head to Head

Argyle and Newport have faced each other fifty-five times both in league and cup games. The first time the sides met was on 11th September 1920 in Division Three (South), the game ended in a 5-1 win for Argyle with Tommy Gallogley, George Sheffield (2), Will Dixon, Harry Raymond scoring the goals.

The last time the teams met was in League Two on 28th December at Rodney Parade, Argyle came out winners on this occasion, with a 2-1 victory, goals scored by Scott Boden (Newport), Jake Jervis and Ryan Brunt. Newport last travelled to Plymouth on 29th August 2015, Graham Carey scored the only goal of the game just before half time as Argyle won the fixture 1-0.