Torquay United manager Chris Hargreaves is facing a series of potentially season defining fixtures as they face four of their five fellow members of the bottom six of League Two.
The phrase 'six-pointer' was probably invented with the Gulls upcoming league encounters with Portsmouth (a), Bury (h), Northampton Town (h) and Accrington Stanley (h) in mind.
For good measure, they are also due to travel to second placed Chesterfield before the month is out as well.
Their re-arranged home fixture with Northampton on February 11th-which had been due to take place in mid January, but was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch- will also have the added spice of an early return to Plainmoor for former manager Alan Knill, who was recently named as assistant to the Cobblers' new manager Chris Wilder.
Home advantage in the games against Bury and Accrington, as well as the Northampton fixture, will almost certainly be a major advantage to the Gulls, and as long as they don't find themselves rooted to the foot of the table by the time March comes around-which would be their worst case scenario-then Hargreaves and his players could be well on course to complete their survival target.
Before then, there is the small matter of Hargreaves's first game in charge at Plainmoor on Tuesday night against Burton Albion; and the Gulls' boss will be looking to make a winning return as manager.
Monday, 27 January 2014
Sunday, 26 January 2014
GLOVERS CUP RUN ENDED BY FORMER ARGYLE YOUNGSTER
Yeovil Town's latest FA Cup run came to an end against Southampton, partly thanks to a player born around 60 miles from Huish Park.
Saints starlet Sam Gallagher- who was born in Crediton, and was formerly with Plymouth Argyle-scored Southampton's second goal of the tie on 70 minutes, after Guly Do Prado had given Mauricio Pocchettino's men the lead in the 23rd minute from the penalty spot.
It was Gallagher's first senior for the Saints who he joined in 2012 from the Pilgrims, despite interest from Everton and Newcastle, following in the footsteps of another ex Argyle prospect Jack Stephens.
Gallagher had made his debut for Southampton earlier in the season in their Capital One cup fourth round exit at the hands of Sunderland.
Saints starlet Sam Gallagher- who was born in Crediton, and was formerly with Plymouth Argyle-scored Southampton's second goal of the tie on 70 minutes, after Guly Do Prado had given Mauricio Pocchettino's men the lead in the 23rd minute from the penalty spot.
It was Gallagher's first senior for the Saints who he joined in 2012 from the Pilgrims, despite interest from Everton and Newcastle, following in the footsteps of another ex Argyle prospect Jack Stephens.
Gallagher had made his debut for Southampton earlier in the season in their Capital One cup fourth round exit at the hands of Sunderland.
Thursday, 23 January 2014
THE APPRENTICE CHALLENGES ONE OF HIS MASTERS
In his second match as Torquay United manager, Chris Hargreaves is set to face one of his former clubs, Oxford United, and one of his former managers- Chris Wilder.
The Gulls travel to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday in the match that will see Hargreaves cross swords- in managerial terms- with Wilder, who signed him for the U's in January 2010; a move which saw him leave Plainmoor after two-and-a-half-years, during which time he had helped inspire Torquay to promotion from the Conference.
Prior to his arrival in south Devon, Hargreaves had spent two years at the Kassam Stadium between 2005 and 2007. There was an element of unfinished business involved in his return to the U's as they had been relegated from the Football League, and missed out on promotion from the Conference by losing to Exeter City on penalties.
Pleasingly during Hargreaves' second stint, Oxford clinched their return to League Two with a Play-Off final victory over York City. Although he didn't play in the final, his experience of winning promotion with the Gulls a year earlier still played a crucial part in the U's success.
As well as facing one of his former managers, Hargreaves will also be up against one of his former Torquay midfield colleagues in the form of Nicky Wroe, who recently joined Oxford on loan from his current club Preston North End.
The Gulls will be particularly keen to return to action after last week's fixture with Northampton Town was postponed, and they will also be eager to take advantage of the U's strangely inconsistent home form, which reads: played 14, won four, drawn five and lost five.
This record is completely at odds with their away record, which makes them the only side yet to lose a league fixture away from home- including a 3-1 win over Torquay at Plainmoor on August 17th 2013.
Footnote: Following Graham Turner's departure from Shrewsbury Town earlier this week, Chris Wilder is the only current Football League manager who Chris Hargreaves played under during his career. The Gulls' boss served under Turner whilst he was at Hereford United between 1996 and 1998.
The Gulls travel to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday in the match that will see Hargreaves cross swords- in managerial terms- with Wilder, who signed him for the U's in January 2010; a move which saw him leave Plainmoor after two-and-a-half-years, during which time he had helped inspire Torquay to promotion from the Conference.
Prior to his arrival in south Devon, Hargreaves had spent two years at the Kassam Stadium between 2005 and 2007. There was an element of unfinished business involved in his return to the U's as they had been relegated from the Football League, and missed out on promotion from the Conference by losing to Exeter City on penalties.
Pleasingly during Hargreaves' second stint, Oxford clinched their return to League Two with a Play-Off final victory over York City. Although he didn't play in the final, his experience of winning promotion with the Gulls a year earlier still played a crucial part in the U's success.
As well as facing one of his former managers, Hargreaves will also be up against one of his former Torquay midfield colleagues in the form of Nicky Wroe, who recently joined Oxford on loan from his current club Preston North End.
The Gulls will be particularly keen to return to action after last week's fixture with Northampton Town was postponed, and they will also be eager to take advantage of the U's strangely inconsistent home form, which reads: played 14, won four, drawn five and lost five.
This record is completely at odds with their away record, which makes them the only side yet to lose a league fixture away from home- including a 3-1 win over Torquay at Plainmoor on August 17th 2013.
Footnote: Following Graham Turner's departure from Shrewsbury Town earlier this week, Chris Wilder is the only current Football League manager who Chris Hargreaves played under during his career. The Gulls' boss served under Turner whilst he was at Hereford United between 1996 and 1998.
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
ARGYLE CUP RUNNETH OVER
Despite taking the lead twice, Plymouth Argyle were unable to overcome Port Vale in the FA Cup 3rd round replay as they bowed out of the competition.
In their first meeting at Vale Park, the Pilgrims came from behind to draw 2-2, but in the replay, at Home Park, it was the Pilgrims who sped out of the block as Argentinean midfielder Andres Gurrieri-in the week that his fellow countryman Lionel Messi relinquished his Ballon D'Or award to Cristiano Ronaldo- opened the scoring for Argyle after two minutes.
Jordan Hugill then equalised for Vale with a strike from 18-yards before Pilgrims skipper Conor Hourihane restored Argyle's advantage nine minutes before half-time.
Ben Williamson headed home Vale's equaliser midway through the second half, which gave Vale a platform to take the lead on 75 minutes when Jennison Myrie-Williams struck with what proved to be the game's decisive goal.
However, it could have been a different five minutes later when the Pilgrims were awarded a penalty when Hourihane was felled in the area by Chris Lines, which earned the former Bristol Rovers man a red card.
Argyle's top scorer Reuben Reid- the Pilgrims' top scorer with 13 goals- then stepped up to take the spot-kick, which was saved by Vale keeper Chris Neal, thus denying Argyle a replay and leaving them to concentrate on the league.
In their first meeting at Vale Park, the Pilgrims came from behind to draw 2-2, but in the replay, at Home Park, it was the Pilgrims who sped out of the block as Argentinean midfielder Andres Gurrieri-in the week that his fellow countryman Lionel Messi relinquished his Ballon D'Or award to Cristiano Ronaldo- opened the scoring for Argyle after two minutes.
Jordan Hugill then equalised for Vale with a strike from 18-yards before Pilgrims skipper Conor Hourihane restored Argyle's advantage nine minutes before half-time.
Ben Williamson headed home Vale's equaliser midway through the second half, which gave Vale a platform to take the lead on 75 minutes when Jennison Myrie-Williams struck with what proved to be the game's decisive goal.
However, it could have been a different five minutes later when the Pilgrims were awarded a penalty when Hourihane was felled in the area by Chris Lines, which earned the former Bristol Rovers man a red card.
Argyle's top scorer Reuben Reid- the Pilgrims' top scorer with 13 goals- then stepped up to take the spot-kick, which was saved by Vale keeper Chris Neal, thus denying Argyle a replay and leaving them to concentrate on the league.
Saturday, 11 January 2014
HARGREAVES MAKES WINNING START TO GULLS REIGN
The Torquay United board's decision to replace manager Alan Knill with Chris Hargreaves paid immediate dividends as the Gulls beat AFC Wimbledon in their former promotion winning captain's first game in charge.
First half goals from Krystian Pearce and Jayden Stockley, Hargreaves' first signing on taking charge-on loan from his former club, AFC Bournemouth, proved to be enough to enable the Gulls to pick a valuable three points against the Dons.
However, it was not quite enough to lift Torquay out of the League Two relegation zone as Accrington Stanley drew with Newport County and Bristol Rovers beat Exeter City.
This means that the Gulls are locked on 26 points with Stanley and Rovers- occupying 23rd place in the table only on goal difference.
Next up for Torquay is bottom club Northampton next Saturday-who Hargreaves spent four years with between 2000 and 2004, and was considered for their vacant managerial vacancy-and three points for the Gulls in that fixture could have a dramatic effect on their current position.
First half goals from Krystian Pearce and Jayden Stockley, Hargreaves' first signing on taking charge-on loan from his former club, AFC Bournemouth, proved to be enough to enable the Gulls to pick a valuable three points against the Dons.
However, it was not quite enough to lift Torquay out of the League Two relegation zone as Accrington Stanley drew with Newport County and Bristol Rovers beat Exeter City.
This means that the Gulls are locked on 26 points with Stanley and Rovers- occupying 23rd place in the table only on goal difference.
Next up for Torquay is bottom club Northampton next Saturday-who Hargreaves spent four years with between 2000 and 2004, and was considered for their vacant managerial vacancy-and three points for the Gulls in that fixture could have a dramatic effect on their current position.
Friday, 10 January 2014
MADDEN ON THE MOVE TO IRON
Almost one year on from permanently signing for Yeovil Town, Paddy Madden is moving again; with League Two leaders Scunthorpe United his new destination.
Madden, 23, signed for the Glovers for a fee of £15,000 from Carlisle United in January 2013, following a successful loan spell.
He then went to top the League One goal scoring charts, with 23 goals in all competitions-including their opening goal in their Play-Off final win over Brentford, as Yeovil won promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history.
However, once the Glovers began their Championship campaign, Madden-despite receiving his first international cap for the Republic of Ireland- failed to find the back of the net with the same frequency that he had done in the previous season.
This, in turn, led to him being transfer listed at the beginning of November.
The move is likely to earn the Glovers in the region of £300,000, some of which will go to Carlisle who had a sell-on clause as part of the deal, which could prove useful to manager Gary Johnson in terms of potential squad strengthening in the current January transfer window.
Madden, 23, signed for the Glovers for a fee of £15,000 from Carlisle United in January 2013, following a successful loan spell.
He then went to top the League One goal scoring charts, with 23 goals in all competitions-including their opening goal in their Play-Off final win over Brentford, as Yeovil won promotion to the Championship for the first time in their history.
However, once the Glovers began their Championship campaign, Madden-despite receiving his first international cap for the Republic of Ireland- failed to find the back of the net with the same frequency that he had done in the previous season.
This, in turn, led to him being transfer listed at the beginning of November.
The move is likely to earn the Glovers in the region of £300,000, some of which will go to Carlisle who had a sell-on clause as part of the deal, which could prove useful to manager Gary Johnson in terms of potential squad strengthening in the current January transfer window.
Thursday, 9 January 2014
KEEP CALM AND PASS TO BANTON -AGAIN
The last time Jason Banton appeared at Home Park in a Plymouth Argyle shirt, he scored the decisive goal in Argyle's Devon derby against Exeter City last March.
As part of his celebration, he revealed a T-shirt, which he wore underneath his Pilgrims' jersey that said: "Keep Calm And Pass To Banton."
The goal in question was Banton's sixth goal of his loan spell with Argyle from Crystal Palace, which ensured that he finished the season as the Pilgrims' leading scorer.
It also helped to earn him and Argyle manager John Sheridan their respective monthly League Two player and managerial awards for March 2013.
A week later, he was recalled by the Eagles, but now-after Palace manager, and ex Argyle boss, Tony Pulis- he has made a permanent return to Home Park after putting pen-to-paper on an 18-month deal.
On Saturday, he will be looking to add to those six goals he scored during his loan spell when the Pilgrims take on promotion chasing Southend United.
His return comes after Northern Irish loanee Caolan Lavery returns to his parent club, Sheffield Wednesday, so it is expected that he will slot straight in alongside leading scorer Reuben Reid.
As part of his celebration, he revealed a T-shirt, which he wore underneath his Pilgrims' jersey that said: "Keep Calm And Pass To Banton."
The goal in question was Banton's sixth goal of his loan spell with Argyle from Crystal Palace, which ensured that he finished the season as the Pilgrims' leading scorer.
It also helped to earn him and Argyle manager John Sheridan their respective monthly League Two player and managerial awards for March 2013.
A week later, he was recalled by the Eagles, but now-after Palace manager, and ex Argyle boss, Tony Pulis- he has made a permanent return to Home Park after putting pen-to-paper on an 18-month deal.
On Saturday, he will be looking to add to those six goals he scored during his loan spell when the Pilgrims take on promotion chasing Southend United.
His return comes after Northern Irish loanee Caolan Lavery returns to his parent club, Sheffield Wednesday, so it is expected that he will slot straight in alongside leading scorer Reuben Reid.
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