Sheffield Wednesday (H) | Schumacher's Preview

After negotiating some new territory in the Sky Bet Championship thus far this season, Argyle will experience some familiarity this week.

Before Saturday’s trip to Ipswich Town, the team who finished second behind the Pilgrims in League One last season, Argyle will play host to Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls also gained promotion from League One, via the play-offs, last season, and are very familiar opponents for the Greens, after not only two games last time round, but four games the year before.

Some similarities, but one major difference. Danny Rohl took over the Wednesday manager’s job recently, following the dismissal of Xisco Munoz, who failed to win a game since taking over in the summer.

Wednesday are bottom of the table, with three points from 12 games, losing most recently to Watford on Saturday.

Argyle manager Steven Schumacher says that familiarity works two ways for both sets of players, and believes that in Rohl’s single game so far, it has affected improvement in the Owls.

“They've just changed their manager, so they're going to be highly motivated,” said Schumacher. “They've struggled for results this season, with a lot of stuff going on behind the scenes at Sheffield Wednesday, a bit of disruption.

“It seems now that the new manager is going to come in with new ideas. I'm sure the players will buy into it and take it on board. They were a lot better on Saturday in their performance against Watford than they were previously.

“They know a lot about us as well so they'll be coming here knowing what to expect. There's a few new players, but they've still got the nucleus of their squad. We're still speaking about the same players for Sheffield Wednesday, the ones who we need to be aware of, the ones who we know have got so much quality.

“I think that everyone needs to remember how well Sheffield Wednesday did last season. There were three teams at the top of the league there that were close to 100 points, and they played their part in what was an unbelievable League One. They're going to be strong. It hasn't quite happened for them so far this season, but the new manager coming in gives everybody a fresh start. I'm sure they're going to be up for it, and we need to make sure that we match them.”

In order to do so, Schumacher believes that Argyle must take a number of the qualities they developed in a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion, to Home Park. The Greens impressed at the Hawthorns, especially in the first half, on the ball, although could not convert chances into goals.

In the second half, they showed steel to ensure they came away with a point. Against Wednesday, on Wednesday, Schumacher wants his side to show their stuff whilst staying resolute.

“[We need] to do both sides of the game well,” he said. “That was what was pleasing from Saturday's performance. We defended really well.

“We try to be as exciting as we can at Home Park. When we play at a good tempo, pass the ball well, we get into good areas, then we're good to watch. If we're getting into good areas and we're creating chances, then we have to be clinical.

“I think there's areas of the pitch where we can hurt Sheffield Wednesday, and we know that they've got players that can hurt us as well. We won’t come away too much from what we've been doing. I don't think there's an awful lot wrong. We just need more points than what, our performances merit.”