Wednesday 7 March 2018

SHEZ VERSUS DEZ

The next challenge awaiting Plymouth Argyle manager Derek Adams as the Pilgrims aim to nail down a Play-off spot is an encounter with Fleetwood Town, managed by his predecessor as Argyle manager John Sheridan.

Former Republic of Ireland international Sheridan enhanced his reputation as a managerial 'firefighter' by helping to keep the Pilgrims in League Two during the 2012-13 season before helping the foundations for the success that they have enjoyed Adams in the subsequent 2013-14 and 2014-15 campaigns.

Since then he has performed similar feats with Newport County and Oldham Athletic to keep them in their respective divisions; he will be looking to steer the Cod Army away from the League One drop zone between now and the end of the season.

His first match in charge was 1-1 draw with Milton Keynes Dons, which ended a run of eight successive defeats, and he will be keen to get his first win on the board as soon as possible.

Argyle, on the other hand, haven't played a competitive fixture in the last fortnight after last week's trip to Rochdale was postponed due to the extreme snowy weather that has hit the country recently.

It will also be their second match since they returned from their mid-season break to Marbella - their first was a 1-0 home win over Bradford City. It will be interesting to see if the dividends of the decision to make the trip can continue to pay off for the Pilgrims despite their enforced break due to the weather.

As well as the 'Sheridan versus Adams' angle, there is also the sub-plot of Toumani Diagouraga's first competitive meeting with the Pilgrims since his move to Highbury in early January to be closer to his family, who are based up north.

During a three-month spell at Home Park, Diagouraga netted three times in 15 matches - the last of which came in his final appearance in a 3-0 home win over Bury - but he has so far failed to replicate that kind of form for the Cod Army and he is another individual with a point to prove going into his encounter.