Match Preview: Plymouth Vs Wednesday
By Nicholas Rigg
October 13 2005
Wednesday go into their next match facing a potential relegation six-pointer against Plymouth Argyle. Sturrock's old team look to have turned a corner following Bobby Williamsons sacking and Wednesday will be desperate to climb out the relegation zone following the victory against Coventry City.
Plymouth V Wednesday
Date: Saturday 15th October
Venue: Home Park, Plymouth
Wednesday face a so-called 'six pointer' this coming Saturday with a trip to Plymouth Argyle.
It may be early in the season but the tie is already being lined-up by some as a relegation six pointer, which could kick-start the victors season.
Wednesday lie third bottom in the Championship with just 10 points from 11 games, while Argyle have 12 points with one more game played. Both teams will be desperate to take all three points to pull them away from the drop zone, but I expect Sturrock to be the happier of the two if the match finishes all sqaure.
Sturrock returns to home park for the first time in a competative match since he left the south coast outfit nearly two-years ago. As in S6, the scot is seen as a 'God' down in Plymouth after taking the pilgrims to two successive promotions in to the Championship. He is sure to get a warm welcome by the Plymouth faithful next week, despite leaving them for south-coast rivals Southampton.
Another ex-Pilgrim to make his way up to Hillsborough recently is Graham Coughlan. Coughlan was also a popular figure at Plymouth and spent four years at Home Park. He topped the scorers chart when they won their first promotion to league one and will also get a great reception.
New Plymouth boss Tony Pulis will be hoping to emulate Sturrock's success at Home Park and get them back on track to a respectable league finish this season. Fans lost patience with Bobby Williamson and chairman Paul Stapleton acted quickly in bringing in Pulis - who got his first win as boss against Stoke City last week.
Argyle's 'biggest ever signing' Taribo West had his contract terminated from the club this week, the reasons yet unknown. Hasnee Aljofree may be a name familiar to Owls fans - he was on loan at S6 last season before being injured, and is likely to play at the back alongside Kouo-Doumbe. Apart from that, they don't have any injury concerns going in to the match.
As for Wednesday, Jon-Paul McGovern has been ruled out of action for 2 weeks so is likely to miss the trip south, but Richie Partridge is likely to be available - as is on loan Chris Eagles. Lee Bullen should be back to full fitness. Owls boss Sturrock is also hopefuly of landing one or two strikers in time for the match. Wednesday will still be without long-term absentees Steven Maclean, Drissa Diallo and Drew Talbot.
The last time the two teams met at Home Park was in March 2004 when Plymouth ran out 2-0 winners on their way to the League One title. A certain Graham Coughlan scored the second in a comfortable win for the hosts in which Mickey Evans opened the scoring.
Much has changed since that cold Tuesday night though, and it will certainly be a different game this time around. Two different managers, a different league, and two just about totally different teams. One key thing which will be present at Home Park will be Sturrock, and hopefully he will end up on the winning team again, as Wednesday hope to gain a physcological advantage and climb out of the bottom three.
Previous Line-Ups:
Argyle: Larrieu, Barness, Brevett, Aljofree, Doumbe, Norris, Wotton, Gudjonsson (Buzsaky 53), Capaldi, Chadwick (Taylor 53), Evans.
Subs Not Used: Connolly, McCormick, Djordjic.
Wednesday: Lucas, Hills, Coughlan, Lee, Simek, Brunt, Whelan, Eagles (O'Brien 77), Rocastle, Peacock, Graham (Bullen 86).
Subs Not Used: Corr, Partridge, Wood.
Head-To-Head:
Argyle Wins: 9
Draws: 8
Wednesday Wins: 10
Current Form (last 5):
Won (Leeds H 1-0), Lost (Millwall H 1-2), Draw (Luton A 2-2), Lost (Crystal Palace A 2-0), Won (Coventry H 3-2)
Draw (Crewe H 1-1), Won (Burnley H 1-0), Draw (Southampton A 0-0), Lost (Sheffield United A 2-0), Won (Stoke City H 2-1)
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