Preparing for Pompey
Argyle travel to Portsmouth on Tuesday night on a six-match unbeaten run in Sky Bet League One.
The Pilgrims picked up their fourth win of the season on Saturday, thanks to a Ryan Hardie goal early in the second half.
It was the second away win of the league campaign, just one shy of last season’s total on the road.
If the Greens were to win at Fratton Park it would not only see them win at Portsmouth’s home for the first time in five seasons, but it would also send Ryan Lowe’s men to the top of the Sky Bet League One table.
Lowe knows that his side are currently playing well but is cautious not to get too carried away.
He said, “It’s going to be tough, They’re trying to build a team and will be wanting to push on and move up the table.
“We will have a game plan like we do for every game, we’ll respect them but hopefully we will be able to execute it.”
Argyle’s impressive form has, in part, been down to a solid defensive foundation.
With just four goals conceded, they have the joint best defensive record in the division with Portsmouth.
Two of those goals came in the opening day loss to Rotherham United but with four clean sheets, ‘keeper Mike Cooper is in confident mood heading into the game.
He said, “I am really looking forward to it. The stadium is going to be rocking, I know our fans are going to travel in their numbers as well. It’s another one to look forward to.”
Portsmouth have had an indifferent start to the 21/22 campaign, they have been tight at the back but have struggled to score many with just five goals from their seven games so far.
Having won their opening three league matches, Danny Cowley’s side are without a victory in their last four games and have lost their last three.
The most recent of those was a 2-1 loss at Fratton Park at home to Cambridge United.
Joe Ironside and Luke O’Neil had put Cambridge 2-0 heading into the final 20 minutes but a Ronan Curtis goal 15 minutes from time made for a nervy ending.
Pompey, though, couldn’t get the equaliser and dropped to 15th in the league with that defeat.
The hosts will take hope from the fact that they are unbeaten at home against Argyle since a Gregg Wylde goal in April 2016 gave the Pilgrims a 2-1 win.
Since then, there have been three draws and two Pompey wins in the last five meetings at Fratton Park.
In fact, these two sides are pretty evenly matched in recent times, the last three meetings have all ended in draws, with Argyle’s last win over the Blues coming in the second leg of the playoff semi-finals in 2016.
TEAM NEWS
Defender Clark Robertson is likely to be unavailable for the visit of Argyle as he is looking to recover from an injury which ruled him out of Saturday’s loss to Cambridge.
Danny Cowley is also expected to be without Jayden Reid and Louis Vincent who have knee and ankle injuries respectively.
Argyle will be hoping that Danny Mayor is fit enough for a place in the squad, while it is also expected that captain Joe Edwards will feature after missing the win over AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.
James Bolton, Niall Ennis and George Cooper are ruled out of the game with injury.
TICKET NEWS
Tickets for the game are still available to buy from the Home Park Ticket Office.
You can buy them online at argyletickets.com or over the phone by calling 01752 907700.
ARGYLE TV
If you cannot make the game, then it is available to watch on Argyle TV worldwide for just £10.
Details on packages available to you can be found here.
