Monday, 5 February 2018

ARGYLE END ROVERS RUN

The last time that Blackburn Rovers travelled to Home Park to face Plymouth Argyle was on the final day of the 1991-92 season for an occasion that saw the two sides heading in opposite directions.

Blackburn won 3-1 on the day to secure a place in the play-offs of the 'old' Second Division - the Championship in new money - whilst the Pilgrims were condemned to relegation - bringing down the curtain on their six-year stay in the division.

Three years later, Rovers pipped Manchester United in the Premier League title and the Pilgrims were relegated to the Football League's basement league for the first time ever.

However, at the weekend, both teams were very much travelling in an upward trajectory as Blackburn were looking to extend an 18-match unbeaten run and Argyle had only lost once in their previous ten league encounters.

On this occasion it was the Pilgrims who continued their own excellent run, as they won 2-0 with first half goals from Reuben Lamieras and Ryan Taylor to move up to 11th in the table.

Derek Adams' side are now seven points off the play-offs, and have claimed the joint-highest number of points - 24 - in League One since December 2017 with Rotherham United.

After a difficult start, the Pilgrims have now made themselves at home in League One and with a promising transfer window in January, which saw Jake Jervis join Luton Town for £125,000, a top ten finish is firmly within their sights.

Adams moved to clinch the signature of Wales international Simon Church, and he has also brought in Moses Makasi and Zak Vyner on loan from West Ham United and Bristol City whilst Gregg Wylde and Nathan Blissett have been loaned to Morecambe and Macclesfield Town respectively.