Plymouth Argyle Ready For Battle
Plymouth Argyle remain fully focused on the battle to retain their EFL Championship status after a busy January concluded with one of the most encouraging results of the season to date.
The Vertu-backed side headed into 2025 preparing to enter a new era following the departure of Wayne Rooney, with Kevin Nancekivell and Joe Edwards having guided the team to a 2-2 draw with Bristol City on New Years Day.
The Pilgrims followed that up with another point away from home at Stoke City, picking up only a second clean sheet of the season in the process.
Ahead of the trip to Brentford in the FA Cup, which would result in an impressive 1-0 win, Argyle announced the appointment of Miron Muslic as new manager and the Austrian took charge for the first time for the home game with Oxford United.
Although it was the visitors who hit the front at Home Park, Muslic was able to celebrate a point from his first game at the helm when Rami Al Hajj nodded in a cross from newcomer Tymoteusz Puchacz.
Despite the best efforts of Dan Grimshaw to keep the visitors at bay, the next game would see Plymouth fall to defeat at home to QPR before a tough fixture with promotion hopefuls Burnley ended in a heavy loss.
With Morgan Whittaker then departing for Middlesborough, a trip to Sunderland – who were unbeaten at the Stadium of Light – was far from the ideal way to round out the month, but it would prove to be one of the most impressive Argyle performances of the campaign.
Argyle had chances to hit the front in the first half but eventually took the lead when ‘keeper Anthony Patterson deflected an effort from Ryan Hardie into his own net.
Sunderland came back to lead, but with the clock ticking down towards full-time, Nathanael Ogbeta blasted past Patterson from close range for his first Plymouth goal to grab a draw.
Whilst the Club heads into February still seven points from safety, the manner of the Sunderland performance has given a boost in confidence ahead of busy month that includes huge ties against Cardiff City and Luton Town – as well as the small matter of an FA Cup fourth round match with Liverpool...
| January EFL Championship Results | |||
| Stoke City | 0 | 0 | Plymouth Argyle |
| Plymouth Argyle | 1 | 1 | Oxford United |
| Plymouth Argyle | 0 | 1 | Queens Park Rangers |
| Plymouth Argyle | 0 | 5 | Burnley |
| Sunderland | 2 | 2 | Plymouth Argyle |