Match Preview | Peterborough United v Argyle
Argyle face the side with the fewest amount of draws in the country this weekend, as they head to the Weston Homes Stadium to face Peterborough United.
Posh have drawn just two games of the 30 they have played in the league, bringing with them a rather feast-or-famine approach to their season. Of their other 28 games, they have won 15 and lost 13, putting them ninth in the Sky Bet League One table, nine points outside the play-off positions.
Analysing a smaller microcosm of the season, Peterborough have won five and lost three of their last eight encounters. In that cross-section of games, only one game - a 2-1 home win over Portsmouth - has seen both teams score. Posh's defeats include losses at home to Wycombe Wanderers (3-0) and Bolton Wanderers (5-0), their victories including 2-0 wins at Port Vale and Forest Green, and a 3-0 triumph at Morecambe in their most recent game.
United's top goalscorer, with 16 league goals, is Jonson Clarke-Harris. The 28-year-old led a rather nomadic footballing existence until former Pilgrim hero Graham Coughlan took him to Bristol Rovers, where 27 goals in 52 games earned him a move to Peterborough, in the Championship at the time. His goal ratio at Posh is similarly impressive - 63 in 129 - and he tops the League One scoring charts this season.
Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson is in his fourth spell at the club. After coming through the ranks at Manchester United under his famous father, Sir Alex Ferguson, Darren's career saw long spells at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wrexham, most notably. His first managerial job was with Peterborough, and he has accumulatively managed them in over 500 games. In his previous three stints as boss, he has earned promotion from League One to the Championship.
Earlier this season, while Grant McCann was Peterborough manager, they played Argyle twice in a week at Home Park. The first game, in the Carabao Cup first round, ended in a 2-0 win for the visitors, with goals scored by Ricky-Jade Jones and Joe Taylor. Three days later, in the league, Argyle reversed the scoreline, winning 2-0 with goals from Finn Azaz and Ryan Hardie.
Hardie scored twice on Argyle's last visit to the Weston Homes Stadium, which came two seasons ago, again in the Carabao Cup. Luke Jephcott and Panutche Camara also scored in a 4-0 Argyle win.
Schumacher Says
“One thing's always pretty much guaranteed when you play them is that they play exciting attacking football.
“They've always got goals in the team. They've got Jonson Clarke-Harris who plays up front, who is the leading goalscorer in the division at the moment.
“We try and give our defenders as much information as we can about the players they're playing against and do our best to figure out a way to try to stop them. Saturday will be a challenge because not only have Peterborough got Clarke-Harris, they've got one or two others as well that can hurt you.
“Every time you go and play them they cause you defensive problems. In our last two fixtures, we've had all of the ball, and all of the pressure. We're going to have to do some defending on Saturday for sure.
“We need to make sure we're right on that and then hurt Peterborough, if we can, when we've got the ball.”
Team News
Schumacher reports that Adam Randell will miss the game as his ankle injury has not yet healed. Bali Mumba, who missed Tuesday's game, is fit again. Mike Cooper, Dan Scarr and Conor Grant remain out with long-term injuries.
Tickets
Tickets are still available for Argyle fans, but much be purchased in advance. This is an all-ticket fixture. Tickets will not be available for purchase on the day of the game.
No physical tickets will be issued for this game. Tickets should be shown on the gate as a digital download or via a print-at-home ticket.
Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Home Park Ticket office during opening hours, calling 01752 907700 during opening hours, or online at argyletickets.com at any time.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will be wearing their green home kit for this game.
Argyle TV
The game will be covered on Argyle TV, with commentary from Charlie Price and Aaron Cusack. Both will be on hand for a pre-match show which will be available for free on YouTube from 2pm.
Audio commentary of the game is available for £2.50 in the UK, and live video streaming is available for overseas supporters.
