Ipswich Town (A) | Schumacher's Preview
Last season, three teams stood head and shoulders above Sky Bet League One.
In the end, it was Argyle who won the league, but the Greens were pushed all the way by Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday, who both joined Argyle in this season’s Championship.
This week sees Steven Schumacher’s side midway through a reunion of sorts. Sheffield Wednesday visited Home Park on Wednesday, with Argyle emerging victorious, winning 3-0.
Now, the Pilgrims face a trip to Ipswich Town, to meet one of last season’s rivals for the second time in four days.
The form of the two opponents could not be much more different. Wednesday visited Plymouth without a win this season, and with just three points in the bag. They left with the same amount.
Ipswich, though, have started incredibly well. They have won ten games of their 12 in the league, accruing 31 points, placing them second, only behind the startling form of Leicester City, who have 36 points from 13 matches.
It will be a difficult task for Argyle this Saturday, but they head to Suffolk on the back not only of the win against Wednesday on Wednesday, but also a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion the weekend prior.
“Coming off the back of two clean sheets is important,” said Schumacher. “We know we're going to have to be really defensively well organised. We've been playing well most of the season. Some of our attacking play has been good. Our defensive work over the last few games has been better. If we can put that together, put on a whole performance, then we've got a chance of getting a result.
“The start that [Ipswich have] made this season is just incredible for a newly promoted team. I've just read that they've got the second-highest points tally ever behind Leicester this season. It's a brilliant, brilliant achievement and credit to them.
“We knew how good they were last season. They play some unbelievable football. They were good on both sides of the ball, and they've carried that momentum into this season. It's going to be a really tough game.
“I can't say I'm too surprised. They've obviously got a brilliant manager and a good group of lads and the crowd are incredible at Portman Road as well. It's a good club and they're going in the right direction.”
“I think they would probably be surprised that they've got that many actual points, but the way they've played, I can't say I'm too surprised because they're playing in virtually exactly the same way [as last season].
“They've got a very similar squad. A couple of additions, a couple of lads that they bought this season who haven't managed to get into the team yet. That just shows how strong their team was last season. We knew they virtually had Championship players all over the pitch last year, so maybe it highlights actually how well we did to stay above them and fight them off for as long as we did last season.”
The two games between Argyle and Ipswich during 2022/23 were thrilling. At Home Park, Argyle came from behind to win 2-1 in arguably the highest-quality encounter of the season, and via a last-ditch Bali Mumba goal, earned a 1-1 draw at Portman Road later in the campaign.
“I hope [to see a similar game] because if that is the case, then we're in with a chance,” aid Schumacher. “We've got to go and work hard off the ball, cause them a problem where we can, and we've got to try to stay in the game for as long as possible. They are flying, so we need to be at it - but also not be scared of it. We know that, the way we play, we can cause them a problem.
“They didn't have any easy games against us last season. Both games were really tight. If we play as well as we can possibly play, then we've got a shot.”
