Argyle not shying away from Blades test, says Randell

For Adam Randell, this weekend will be about facing a couple of number ones.  

Randell and his Argyle team-mates will face Sheffield United, the number one team in the Sky Bet Championship, top of the division and nine games unbeaten. 

In fact, the Blades have lost just twice all season, both away. Their home form is imperious, with one draw and eight wins in their nine games at Bramall Lane.  

United began with a 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers, but since then, they have won all eight home games, without conceding a goal. Adam Davies began that QPR game in goal, but since then Michael Cooper has taken over, and has been literally impassable at the Blades’ HQ.  

Cooper, who played 161 times for Argyle, has excelled for Sheffield United since departing Argyle just after the start of this season. It comes to the surprise of few who saw the goalkeeper’s ascent from Academy prospect to first-team stalwart whilst a Pilgrim, but especially aware will be one of his best pals, Randell, who will line up against Cooper this weekend for the first time.  

“Playing against Coops will be strange,” said Adam. “I'm looking forward to it, really looking forward to it. I'm really hoping I score. I've said already, if there's one game I score in this season, I want it to be that one! 

“[Coops and I] still talk a fair bit. Every now and again we'll send messages, and we've still got a group chat with me, him and, and Ry (Ryan Hardie), which occasionally we'll put a little message in, and wish each other luck for games.  

“I won't be doing that this weekend, but it'll be good to see him. 

“I'll be trying to get forward a bit if I can, but obviously that's not the most important thing at all. I'm not focusing on playing against him, I'm focusing on playing against Sheffield United. 

“As a team, they're in great form, especially at home. They've got big names, big players, and it's going to be a big challenge for us.  

“We're all going to be focused on making sure that we prepare right and go there trying to win the game. 

“It’s definitely something that we want to go and do. We want to go and prove that we can play against the top teams. This will certainly be a big challenge for us, but it's not a game that we're going to shy away from at all. 

“If we can get something out of this game, then that'll definitely give us more confidence than we've already got.” 

More than 1,000 members of the Green Army will head to South Yorkshire on Saturday, despite their side having not won away from Home Park this season, but they will retain the football fan’s hope that form can be turned over, luck can change, and that surprises can be sprung.  

For his part, Randell expressed his thanks for the efforts the Argyle faithful continue to go to.  

“We know how key they are to us, and our performances, and their support really doesn't go unnoticed,” he said. “There's so many of them travelling and, even though our form hasn't been great, they're still going in numbers, which is absolutely amazing.  

“We’re very grateful for that. We're going to be doing absolutely everything we can, giving 100% to repay them for everything that they do for us.”