Plymouth (Home) Pre match

[Norah]

Post away..



www.kickoff.co.uk/matches/?match_id=44692&area=over-under-goals

and Plymouth Official site…

ARGYLE’S defence is becoming increasingly renowned for its ability to shut out opposition attackers...
...to such an extent so that approaching this weekend’s Sky Bet League 2 match with Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium, they have not conceded in close to nearly nine hours of league football.

The current club clean-sheet record is held by the 2003-2004 Second Division title-winning team under Paul Sturrock that did not concede in 642 minutes of league football between December- January. The run included some memorable wins, including the 7-0 win over Chesterfield at Home Park.

Similarities have been made between the defensive exploits of the 2003-04 team and the current Argyle outfit and considering the definite improvement in defensive cohesion this season, skipper and central defender Curtis Nelson was quick to praise all his defensive colleagues, and especially goalkeeper Luke McCormick.

“He’s a brilliant ’keeper and he’s showed it week in week out with the saves that he’s made,” said Curtis. “Obviously we have a good back four, including Luke, and the two wing-backs [Kelvin Mellor and Andy Kellett]; we have a good squad.”

In order to break the record, the current Argyle team needs to ensure they do not concede against Burton on Saturday and then not concede for the first 26 minutes of the Armed Forces Day game against Portsmouth at Home Park on November 15.

The ‘Fortress Home Park’ mentality that the players at the club have shown in recent weeks has seen the Pilgrims conceded just two league goals all season on their own turf.

“Everyone in the changing-room is starting to feel really confident at home” said Curtis, “and we’re starting to feel a lot more confident in our away games as well. Keeping a clean sheet against Wimbledon with two great strikers, and a good team and a good set-up, on a Tuesday night away was hugely positive.

“It was freezing cold, windy, and we managed to keep a clean sheet there. I think we just have to carry on the form, take each game as it comes, and go and try and get the three points.”

Shutting out automatic promotion chasing Burton will not be an easy task considering they have scored at least an average of one goal per home game this season and are sitting pretty in the upper echelons of Sky Bet League 2.

Curtis said: “I don’t think there is going to be any complacency. I think the lads are very grounded anyway and I don’t think the coaching staff and the gaffer will allow us to get away with being complacent at all; especially us in the back four.”

Read more at www.pafc.co.uk/news/article/keeping-it-clean-2052140.aspx#p4hts2kVgM1iWMTM.99

[Norah]

Albion Offy..


Midfielder keen to keep continuity ahead of Plymouth visit

You don’t mess with something that isn’t broken really so we’re basically keeping everything the same"
Lee Bell

Burton Albion midfielder Lee Bell believes that stability is the key ahead of Saturday’s game against Plymouth Argyle following the departure of manager Gary Rowett on Monday.

Bell and captain Ian Sharps have been asked to assist caretaker manager Mike Whitlow in running the team whilst a new manager is appointed, and preserving Rowett’s influence is vital to the 31-year-old.

“You don’t mess with something that isn’t broken really so we’re basically keeping everything the same, keeping the boys focused on what’s ahead.

“We’re third in the league and the players can take some credit in that, we’re obviously pleased for the manager to get his opportunity at Birmingham but you know the players can take some credit for where we are in the league as well.

“We’ve trained as we would do so just as normal really. We’ve had a little meeting between us three and we have similar ideas. We’ve put them across but there’s not going to be much of a change in the way we go about things day to day,” said Bell.

Bell spoke of his surprise that he was asked to help along with Sharps, but said that he was happy to be asked and would do anything to help keep the feeling of optimism around the Pirelli Stadium.

“I wasn’t really expecting it, obviously there were rumours the gaffer was leaving, I got a phone call from the chairman and I’m happy to help out.

“I’m delighted to help out in the short term. Anything we can do to help Whits (Mike Whitlow) or the players, Sharpy (Ian Sharps) and I are here to help.”

Bell also believes that the relationship between coaching staff and players will help maintain the positivity.

“As professionals you respect each other. Whoever was asked to do this role would have got full support from all the players. We’re not doing massive amounts but what we think can help and that’s it really, things like encouraging in training. So hopefully we’ve got respect like all footballers have got respect for each other.

Bell looked forward to what looks to be an interesting match-up against another in-form side in Plymouth, who notched up their sixth win in seven after a resounding 3-0 win at home to Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

“There’s no easy games is there. They’re doing really well at the minute, they can leapfrog us in the league so we’ll be ready for the game and we’ll certainly be looking forward to it.

Read more at www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/article/20141031-bellpafc-2050977.aspx#uzQHO7IJxLSYs317.99

[Norah]

www.burtonmail.co.uk/BURTON-ALBION-Mike-Whitlow-says-players-just-need/story-23830425-detail/story.html?

[Norah]

Plymouth Herald link: article and video

www.plymouthherald.co.uk/song-Plymouth-Argyle-unchanged-tough-Burton/story-23793650-detail/story.html?

[Deleted]

It's like this...

If we win then it will be down to the supreme effort of Whitlow, Bell and Sharps who have bravely stepped up to the plate and proved that no man is bigger than the club.

If we lose then it will be down to that bloody Rowett chap dropping us in it.

Either way I'm guessing that for the members of a social networking group (whose name shall not be mentioned) a certain game at Molineux will be more important than whatever happens at the Pirelli tomorrow and in particular their tinpot hopes that our former manager comes a cropper.

I'm going for a score draw myself.

[Deleted]

We have been amazingly bereft of draws this season, one only I believe. I think a draw would be acceptable.

[Norah]

Coach John Harbin Plymouth Argyle says are unbeatable at their best
By Western Morning News | Posted: November 01, 2014

Coach John Harbin Plymouth Argyle says are unbeatable at their best
Plymouth Argyle fitness coach John Harbin. Picture: Dave Rowntree/Pinnacle
Comments (0)
Plymouth Argyle will take an unchanged squad to the Pirelli Stadium for their clash with managerless Burton Albion.

Pilgrims’ fitness coach John Harbin, standing in for manager John Sheridan at the pre-match press conference, said aside from long-term injury victims Matt Lecointe and Ben Purrington, Sheridan will call on the unit which has gone six matches undefeated and has won six out of their last seven matches in all competitions.

Sheridan’s men also have the chance of stretching their clean-sheet tally to five consecutive games and also claim their first victory at the Pirelli Stadium.

The Brewers will be led by caretaker manager Mike Whitlow after Gary Rowett left the Staffordshire club to take over the reins at struggling Championship side Birmingham City earlier this week.

Arguably, Argyle could not have picked a better time to play third-placed Burton but the mantra emanating from Home Park is to concentrate on their own game.

Harbin said: “I don’t get involved with what tactics John [Sheridan] decides to use on the pitch, but so far as I’m concerned the squad is fit, confident and aside from Ben and Matt, they are injury-free.

“It’s no secret about working on the adage, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ but obviously if the manager feels he needs to fine-tune anything, he will do so.

“As for the records, yes, they are nice to have but at the end of the season, whether we get promoted or not, I don’t suppose people will be focusing on them.”

Harbin, though, could not disguise a touch of pride in his voice as he touched on the meanness of the current Argyle defence, saying it was a collective achievement – with everyone sharing in the glory, by throwing themselves in harm’s way to block goal-bound shots.

“Statistically, the opposition this season are having more shots on target than last year, but the difference is we’re blocking them,” said Harbin.

“That’s down to the spirit in the camp, with guys like Carl McHugh leading by example.

“That’s also the case with the understudies or unsung heroes, whatever you want to call them. There’s a team behind a team right there who deserve a lot of praise.”

Harbin said that the positive influence of the “older brigade” like centre-back Peter Hartley and goalkeeper McCormick, has rubbed off on younger squad members.

“Luke and Peter and older players, if you like, have helped with the younger ones, in that they are not afraid to speak out and air their opinions without being shot down,” said Harbin. “Curtis Nelson is one who has benefited as he has certainly come out of his shell if you compare him to last season.

“Good leaders, like Peter [Hartley] don’t develop followers, they develop leaders and that’s what has happened here.

“We are not getting involved in the opposition camp but in making sure we get our players all performing to their best.

“If we can do that then there’s nobody in this league who can beat us.”



Read more: www.westernmorningnews.co.uk/Coach-John-Harbin-Plymouth-Argyle-says-unbeatable/story-23861435-detail/story.html?#ixzz3Ho6ZRWGe
Follow us: @wmnnews on Twitter | westernmorningnews on Facebook

[Norah]

Charles In The Middle
Posted: Fri 31 Oct 2014
Author: Charlie Rose

CHARLES Breakspear will be the man to take charge of Argyle’s League 2 game this weekend as the Pilgrims travel to managerless Burton Albion.
The Surrey-born referee has seen 11 games so far this season, issuing 32 yellow cards, showing the red card on six occasions, and awarding two penalties.

Charles has only officiated a game featuring Argyle on one occasion; this came last season when we lost 4-0 at home to York City. Charles gave former Pilgrim Neal Trotman his marching orders after 11 minutes in that game.

Breakspear’s last game was Exeter City’s 2-1 win over high-flying Wycombe Wanderers, where he dished out three yellow cards.

Read more at www.pafc.co.uk/news/article/charles-in-the-middle-2053652.aspx#AVOoZkxHJe0Iiqv2.99

[Norah]

and the Burton Mail link…


www.burtonmail.co.uk/BURTON-ALBION-Mike-Whitlow-niche-game-ndash-team/story-23876167-detail/story.html?

[Deleted]

Not liking the sound of this referee from shandy drinking land ! Very hard to predict today, I have a feeling Mike Whitlow may have the lads fired up and reading about this ref that could backfire on us.
Hope I'm very much wrong and the ref has a good game and allows the game to flow. Plymouth are doing well and not conceding goals whilst we are in an indifferent spell. So based on that logic and the fact that this is league 2 i'll go for 3-0 to the Albion !