Plymouth Argyle head coach Ian Foster has declared that his players “will definitely be up for the challenge” ahead of this weekend’s visit from promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town.
The Pilgrims put a four game winless streak to bed on Saturday with an impressive 2-0 victory away from home against promotion-hopefuls Middlesbrough. Matthew Sorinola opened the scoring inside ten minutes with his first goal for the club and the game was put to bed just after the half-hour mark through Ryan Hardie.
The win was Plymouth’s first in five matches in all competitions and lifted the side up to 15th in the Championship table. Now, Foster’s men are five points clear of the relegation zone, with an important match at home to Ipswich still to come this weekend.
Both clubs were promoted from League One in the automatic promotion spots last season and were neck-and-neck for the majority of the campaign. The third tier title race went right down to the wire on the final day, with Plymouth Argyle eventually coming out on top, accumulating over 100 points.
However, since the duo reached the Championship, Ipswich have undoubtedly been the more successful side, currently sitting in third-place, level on points with Leeds United in second but with an inferior goal difference.
In the reverse fixture, Bali Mumba rescued a point for the Pilgrims in the dying embers of the game at Portman Road after Wes Burns opened the scoring for the hosts in the 63rd minute.
Nevertheless, this time around, Foster is looking to take home all three points, admitting that the game against Ipswich has more of an edge to it compared to other games in the league given last season’s tight-knit title race [quotes via Plymouth Live]:
“Speaking to the players who were involved with the title win, I think this game means just a little bit more to them with all the pandemonium that comes with a championship-winning run. I think there is just a little bit more on it than perhaps a normal Championship game.
“I know the recent history of these two clubs, and I’m sure it will mean something to their players as well. There is a lot of their players who were involved in those games [last season] and they will be wanting to put the record straight if you like,” he continued.
“I just think it adds a little spice to the game, a little bit of flavour to it, which is really nice and great for the supporters. Our players will definitely be up for the challenge.”
Writer’s View
This certainly will be a big match for the supporters, with Home Park expected to be a full house yet again for the affair. While Plymouth Argyle won the battle last season by lifting the League One title, Ipswich may have the last laugh, particularly if they earn promotion back to the top-flight in unprecedented fashion this term.
The visitors this weekend have picked up form in recent weeks after a rocky end to 2023 and start to 2024, meaning Foster’s men need to be on the top of their game to hold out for a result against Kieran McKenna’s side.
Deputy Head of Writing
