Preview: Plymouth Argyle v Fleetwood Town

12 February 2021

Fleetwood Town face Plymouth Argyle on Saturday 13 February at Home Park in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 3pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Plymouth Argyle v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 13 February 2021

Kick-off: 15:00

Venue: Home Park, Outland Road, Plymouth, PL2 3DQ

Match officials: Thomas Bramall (Referee), John Flynn & Mark Derrien (Assistant Referees), Daniel Flynn (Fourth Official)

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FLEETWOOD TOWN

The Cod Army head to Home Park after picking up their first win in a while on Tuesday, as they beat high-flying Doncaster Rovers 3-1 at Highbury.

The visitors opened the scoring early on through Jason Lokilo but a barrage of attacks wore down the Donny defence before Kyle Vassell, Paddy Madden and Danny Andrew all found the back of the net in the second half.

Before that, Town played out a goalless draw with Bristol Rovers. They started out the better side, creating multiple chances but none that were able to get past goalkeeper Joe Day. The visitors then grew into the game, forcing a couple of saves from Alex Cairns, but he kept them out and secured another clean sheet.

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PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

Argyle are going into this clash on the back of a seven-game unbeaten streak in the league, with their last loss coming against Oxford United in December 2020.

Plymouth’s last outing saw they travel to Accrington Stanley and come way 1-0 winners, with Niall Ennis scoring the only goal on the cold evening in Lancashire. The goal came from a mistake at the back from Stanley, which was pounced on by the forward who rounded the goalkeeper and slotted home.

The game before, Argyle looked like they were going to take away all three points from their away trip to Fratton Park but a James Bolton goal just before the end meant the points would have to be shared. All four goals in the 2-2 draw came in the last 20 minutes, with Luke Jephcott bagging a brace, before Ronan Curtis pulled one back and Bolton’s strike seals the fate of the tie.

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PRE-MATCH QUOTES – SIMON GRAYSON

Head coach Simon Grayson spoke to the press ahead of his side’s Sky Bet League One clash against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday. He had this to say:

“When you go to a football club, you have to get a victory as soon as possible as it just settles everybody down. We did ok against Bristol Rovers, getting a clean sheet and a point, but you want to get a win under your belt.

“Sometimes it’s no better than to do it against one of the most in form teams in the country, and one at the top end of the division, so I think all the players took on board what I asked them to do against Bristol Rovers, which they didn’t do as well as we would have liked them to.

“We refocused on Monday about the way we want to do, and they certainly took that on board and did very well, which was very pleasing. We won’t rest on our laurels; we need to make sure we show the same characteristics as we did on Tuesday against Plymouth.”

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ONE TO WATCH – LUKE JEPHCOTT

One to watch from Plymouth Argyle will be midfielder Luke Jephcott. The 21-year-old has been prolific for The Pilgrims all season and is currently their top goal scorer with 18 in all competitions.

Jephcott came through the youth ranks at Argyle and managed to make his first-team debut in October 2018, in a 3-2 home loss to Burton Albion. He would go on to make ten appearances in his first season but had to wait until January 2020 for his first goals.

Like London buses, they came all together as he scored four goals in two games at the start of the year, bagging braces against both Scunthorpe United and Carlisle United.

In the current League One season, Jephcott has found the back of the net in 15 different games, with braces coming against Swindon Town, Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth in that time. This brings his tally up to 25 in just 52 games for Plymouth.

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WATCH TOWN ON iFOLLOW!

Supporters can now purchase video match passes for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

With fans still unable to attend games, the iFollow match pass is your best option to watch the Cod Army play.

Simon Grayson's side are set to face Plymouth in a league clash at Home Park on Saturday and you can watch the game for just £10!

If you'd like to purchase your match pass, click HERE.

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Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Town narrowly lose out to Plymouth at Home Park

13 February 2021

Fleetwood Town fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle at Home Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Pilgrims opened the scoring when Byron Moore’s cross was turned into his own goal by defender Harrison Holgate. The Cod Army piled the pressure on the Argyle defence, creating chances of their own, but couldn’t find a way past goalkeeper Michael Cooper.

Town had the first chance of the game in the opening minutes when Kyle Vassell was fouled on the right-hand side by Kelland Watts. The resulting free-kick was whipped into the box by Charlie Mulgrew but goalkeeper Cooper was in the way, tipping the shot over the bar.

Fleetwood continued to threaten in the early stages when Dan Batty picked out Paddy Madden with an exquisite pass. His ball towards Vassell was diverted towards goal by Argyle defender Will Aimson, but the ball fell nicely into the gloves of Cooper.

In the 12^th minute, the Pilgrims broke the deadlock when Moore’s driven delivery across the face of goal was turned into his own net by Holgate.

The hosts had the chance to double their lead when Luke Jephcott received the ball on the edge of the area from Conor Grant. He stuck his effort along the turf, but it was too close to Alex Cairns.

Moments later, Fleetwood appeared to have broken the Argyle offside trap. After latching onto a loose ball, Madden played Vassell in behind who slotted the ball past the goalkeeper, but the assistant raised his flag.

It was the home side’s turn to attack minutes later as Cairns was called into action. Jephcott’s strike from the edge of the area was saved by the left hand of the Fleetwood goalkeeper Cairns, who reacted quickly to deny Niall Ennis’ follow up attempt.

Just before the break, the strike partnership of Vassell and Madden proved to be a threat once again. The pair linked up before Madden tried to square the ball to Callum Camps, but a last-ditch defensive challenge saw the pass cut out.

Grant threatened for the hosts early in the second half. He skipped two challenges, making his way into the area, before firing a cross shot on goal from a narrow angle, but Cairns stood tall and turned the ball behind for a corner.

The Cod Army came close to levelling the score when Batty’s ball over the top was controlled by Camps, but he was unable to poke the ball past the onrushing Cooper.

Town had another chance to draw level when substitute Sam Finley picked out Kyle Vassell in the six-yard box, but he could only find the side netting.

Ryan Hardie found himself at the centre of the action of Plymouth. After firing over under pressure from Janoi Donacien, the striker had the chance to double his side’s lead when Lewis picked him out on the penalty spot. His effort was cleared off the by a combination of Cairns and Ryan Rydel.

The final chance of the game fell to the visitors as substitute Rydel managed to control a loose ball on the edge of the Plymouth box, but when he lined up his eventual shot, he seemed to lose his footing and the strike went wide of the target – meaning the Pilgrims picked up all three points at Home Park.

Plymouth XI: Cooper (GK), Watts, Aimson, Mayor (C), Grant, Moore (Edwards 84), Fornah, Ennis, Opoku, Camara (Lewis 71), Jephcott (Hardie 69).

Unused subs: McCormick (GK), Reeves, Lolos, Woods.

Town XI: Cairns (GK), Andrew (Saunders 81), Connolly, Camps (McKay 87), Mulgrew, Rossiter (Finely 63), Madden (C), Vassell, Donacien, Batty, Holgate (Rydel 81).

Unused subs: Coleman (GK), Duffy, J.Morris, S.Morris.