Friday 25 March 2016

ARGYLE WIN TO GET BACK ON TRACK

Plymouth Argyle got their promotion bid back on track on Good Friday with a win over Morecambe.

Goals from loan signings Jordan Houghton and Jamille Matt - who are on loan at Home Park from Chelsea and Fleetwood Town - secured a 2-0 win for the Pilgrims over the Shrimps, who were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time when Alex Kenyon was dismissed for a foul on Carl McHugh.

Only goal difference is keeping Argyle out of the top three at the time of writing, as they remain level on points with third placed Bristol Rovers.

Pilgrims manager Derek Adams has strengthened his squad for their end of season run-in with the  re-signing on loan deadline day of midfielder Hiram Boateng from Crystal Palace.

However, Boateng's return now means Adams has more players in his squad than he allowed to select in the match-day squad.

Current rules stipulate that no manager is allowed to name more than five loanees amongst his starting eleven and seven substitutes for each fixture.

Argyle currently have six players on loan at Home Park: Oscar Threlkld (Bolton); Craig Tanner (Reading); Houghton (Chelsea); Matt (Fleetwood); Daniel Nardiello (Bury) & Boateng (Crystal Palace), which means on every match-day - one of the aforementioned loanees is forced to sit in the stands.

It's a conundrum that Adams will have to face at least another eight times during the regular season, unless the Pilgrims are forced to settle for a Play-off spot.

As things stands, Argyle, who are currently 4th in the table, could be facing a reunion with Wycombe Wanderers - their Play-off semi final opponents from last season - as the Chairboys are in the 7th place and therefore would be due to meet the Pilgrims should they both finish the season in the current positions.