THE BIG MATCH PREVIEW PLYMOUTH

By Jon Harries

At the end of the day a wins a win, without doubt minus the 5 minute period in the second half it was a comfortable afternoon, and certainly more than the 3-2 score line suggests. For once the Dons took an early lead. Sorinola with a delicious ball over the top and Cameron Jerome got there before Savin, rounded the goalkeeper, and placed it in the net. It could and should have been more than the one goal advantage going into half-time, Fraser and Jerome with very good chances in a dominant display.

The second half started much the same as the first and it was the same combination that doubled the lead. Sorinola again supplying the ammunition for Jerome to bag a brace with a real poachers goal. There’s a saying in football though, 2-0 is a dangerous score line and so it proved, Dion Charles pulled one back after the Dons failed to clear their lines properly, then just 3 minutes later Andrew Surman was unfortunate to deflect a shot in his own net…..panic stations amongst players, staff, and fans alike. Accrington piled the pressure on without really troubling the score line and in a dramatic fashion there was one more big moment. Sorinola with a hattrick of assists put another peach of a cross in and Matt O’Riley produced a wonderful header into the roof of the net for a massive 3 points at Stadium MK. It was no more than we deserved and going into Tuesday with more belief and confidence.

Just like when we last met Plymouth are struggling for form at the moment with one win in five (coming against League 1 leaders at the time, Lincoln). Maybe it’s the amount of matches being played recently, or the typical a manager extends a contract with the team in great form and even before the ink is dry the form suddenly turns for the worse. In Ryan Lowe they have a manager though that is like Russell Martin. He likes to play football the right way so this should be an intriguing contest. At the weekend Plymouth lost 1-0 away to a resurgent Ipswich, Troy Parrott capitalising on a mistake to slot in his first professional goal. In truth it was more than deserved in a dominant display at Portman Road, but after a solid start to the season the Pilgrims are just one place above us going into the contest.

Michael Cooper has had a very good season in goal earning rave reviews from opposition fans. Kelland Watts is another one to watch starting all L1 games this season and two goals from LB should provide a good test for Laird. In midfield George Cooper and Ben Reeves on their day can provide magic, and up top Luke Jephcott and Ryan Hardie have had very respectable L1 campaigns. Jephcott is currently going through an 8 games without a goal spell and has been rotated recently, but 16 goals in his first season in the 3rd Tier is phenomenal. Niall Ennis was recruited in January to take the burden off the front 2, and 3 goals since then has certainly done that.

Danny Mayor is a very talented L1 midfielder, with passing and crossing ability above his level and on his day is unplayable. He can be inconsistent but that’s what you get at this level sometimes. With one goal this season it’s a bit of a concern for a number 10, but if you have the strike force scoring it’s not a major issue. He followed Lowe from Bury before their unfortunate demise, take nothing away from him though he is definitely the one to watch.

Predicted Line Up

Fisher

Laird – O’Hora – Darling – Lewington – Sorinola

Surman – McEachran – O’Riley – Fraser Jerome Why change a winning and functional side. We saw the “Silky Dons” at their very best on Saturday and if we can have that control again. I can see a 3-1 home win. As said previously though underestimate Plymouth at your peril.

COYD