A brief introduction

After six games and zero wins, Plymouth Argyle find themselves bottom of the table. It feels like a direct repeat of last season with another dire start leaving us with a lot of catching up to do. Last week Adams’ men were thrashed away to Portsmouth in the Dockyard Derby, a score many fans unfortunately predicted. When Argyle are playing like this it really does seem hard to picture the boys getting into the swing of things at any point this season! However, Bristol Rovers haven’t had a great start and have only won one game themselves, so this must be Argyle’s best chance for a win so far, especially. Argyle have a full squad to pick from for the game.

Bristol Rovers’ one win of the season so far came on the 18th August against newly promoted Wycombe and have since been subject to defeats from the likes of Pompey and Southend. Similarly to Argyle, they look unable to find the back of the net season and currently lie on a goal difference of negative three, however that is six goals better than Argyle who have the worst stats in the league in this regard. After finishing strongly in the middle of the table last season, this seems like a disappointing start so far for Rovers. Rovers are without central defender Lockyer (international duty) and left-back Martin(suspension) and both will need to be replaced, as well as long-term absentee Liam Sercombe.

Head-to-head

Argyle went a period of ten years without losing to Rovers from 2002 to 2012

Both teams have scored in the last five encounters between these two clubs

This is the fifth time the clubs have met in September in the last nine games

 

Head-to-head

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Bonham, Leadbitter, Craig, Broadbent ,Kelly, Matthews, Upson, O’Clarke, Rodman, Nicholls, Payne

 

Argyle(4-5-1): Macey, Moore, Edwards, Sawyer, Songo’o, Ness, Sarcevic, C Grant, Carey, Ladapo.

 

Writer’s comments

At this point if I’m honest, it is hard to be optimistic in any game. Realistically however, were we ever going to turn things around, this could be a game that it could happen. That being said, I cannot see Argyle winning this and I will hold out hope for a draw. A boinge 1-1 seems on the cards for me. Nevertheless, perhaps that is slight improvement.