Match officials
Man in the middle
DARREN HANDLEY
Games:33 Yellows 102 Reds 6 (Sat 09 Dec 2017 Plymouth 2 - 1 Gillingham 3 Yellows)
Assisted by
Richard Wild and David Benton
Fourth Official: Paul Graham
Fleetwoon NewsFleetwood Town boss John Sheridan says he would like to stay at Highbury long- term but stressed he has only one aim right now – keeping the club in League One.
Relegation escape specialist Sheridan was brought in for the final 13 games of the campaign, replacing Uwe Rosler.
And his focus now is on picking up three points against his old club Plymouth tomorrow and lifting Town out of the drop zone.
The former Oldham boss is not thinking about his own future right now, but he might have more to say about a long- term gig come May if he has kept Town up.
John Sheridan may want smiles across the board but says it’s no laughing matter come kick-off time as Town aim to beat the drop.
Fleetwood are in the relegation zone heading into the Highbury clash with Plymouth Argyle but training has been noticeably different since Sheridan took over from Uwe Rosler. The difference isn’t just in methods and tactics but the players were also a lot more vocal in the Thursday session before Sheridan’s pre-match press conference.
Several first team players like Jordy Hiwula, Bobby Grant and Wes Burns all featured in the development squad’s 2-2 draw with Oldham Athletic in midweek. Town have picked up a measly four points in that time and are now in the relegation zone, form that saw Uwe Rosler lose his job.
New head coach John Sheridan is aiming to do what he did at Argyle in 2013 and keep Fleetwood up.
Sheridan on Plymouth’s turn around“Full credit to Plymouth, they’ve done well. “When I went into the club [as manager], they were in a similar position at the bottom of the league, and I am proud of what I did down there. “I left them in a stable position after keeping them up we did well to reach the play-offs.
“The club have an excellent Chairman in place, but I just have to focus on Fleetwood and use what I have done at other places, and do that here.
Toumani DiagouragaConsidering the contrasting fortunes of the two clubs he has played for this season, former Leeds player Diagouraga was asked if he regretted his move but said: “No, you can never regret what you do in life.
“I came here for the project and it is not a six- month project – it is a year, two years, three... and I’m sure the club will push on.”
That project was sold to Diagouraga by his ex-Brentford boss Rosler, who knew the Frenchman was keen to return north for family reasons after his contract at Leeds was terminated by mutual consent in August.
Rosler signed Diagouraga on an 18-month deal to add experience, but since impressing and scoring in a 2-1 debut win at Southend, the midfielder has failed to reproduce his Plymouth form.
“I’ve settled in really well. The lads have made me feel welcome and I’m happy to be here.”
Diagouraga has kept in touch with his former Devon team-mates and is pleased they have turned their season around.
He said: “They look like they might make the play-offs, so I am happy for them.”
Manager Adams revealed the Plymouth camp has been hit by a sickness bug in the build-up to tomorrow’s game but Diagouraga said: “Nobody has told me about that. I didn’t know.”
InjuriesThe on-loan Preston defender picked up an ankle problem this week and has been ruled out, otherwise Fleetwood has a full complement of players to choose from.
One player in the Plymouth ranks who Fleetwood Town fans know all about is their Wembley play-off final hero Antoni Sarcevic.
Argyle NewsThere been a mix week since Argyle last played. the first team was given the weekend away and Derek Adams and Ruben Lameiras were up for League One awards. Derek won his manager of the month award for February.
The best news is Ryan has completed a short course of chemotherapy in his fight against testicular cancer.
Edwards now has up to four weeks to recover from that before a return to training with the Pilgrims could be a possibility.
He had an operation in January after his diagnosis, is recuperating at his home on Merseyside. He has been to Argyle’s recent away League One games against Oldham Athletic and Shrewsbury Town. However, he is being advised against that by Adams.
He wants to come to the game against Fleetwood but his family and myself have advised him against that because it’s probably not a time where he wants to be out and catching any infections.
Argyle central League team had victory over Swindon Town.Ainsworth scored two of the goals as Plymouth Argyle eased to a convincing 4-0 Alex Battle and Alex Fletcher was the other scorers.
Swindon ‘keeper Archie Matthews made a series of fine saves in the second half to prevent a heavier defeat for his side.
Argyle included five professionals in the starting line-up, including goalkeeper Kyle Letheren and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair, who played in central defence. The others were the attacking trio of Ainsworth, Fletcher and Joel Grant.
Swindon fulfilled the fixture with their under-18s side, which did not contain any players with first team experience.
David Fox up-takeCommitted Green Army members will note the experienced midfielder’s hard-working and cultured displays at the heart of the Argyle side. However, they may not be aware of Foxy’s commitment to his young family.
Mrs Fox and her cubs are based in Greater Manchester, and with David’s job landing him in deepest Devon, it means getting back to the lair at awkward times – or sometimes not at all.
I enjoy playing football for this club; I enjoy the lads, the staff and I enjoy going out playing in front of 10,000 or 11,000 every other week at Home Park. I have enjoyed my football since I came here and from a football point of view it has gone as well as I would have hoped.
I’ll be home quite early Saturday night after Fleetwood. Seeing the Rochdale game getting rearranged for a Tuesday night (April 24) means I’ll be home on that Wednesday, but it is what it is. I have been doing it for 18 months and it is just part of football.
When you do what you do and work away from home, lots of people do it in different walks of life. If you enjoy your job though it makes it easier.
I think if you look for one reason for the upturn in our form, you won’t find it. There has been a whole host of things that have gone our way in regards to turning it around. No red cards, Injuries clearing up and a lot of team have kicked on since Toums left.
Fox admitted he is looking forward to playing against Toumani.
Injuries We have the same player out as last game but sickness is the worry this week, we do not know who been hit with the sickness. but Oscar and Sonny had it a few weeks ago. I notice that Miller did not take part in the Central League game this week.
MediaArgyle has been talk of media outlets the last week, talk sports, five live, Newspapers and Keys & Gray show. Tomorrow Argyle are on football focus.
Match FactsPlymouth have won their last 6 matches
Plymouth have been winning at both half time and full time in 5 of their last 6 matches
Fleetwood have failed to win their last 10 home matches
Plymouth have won with a 1 goal margin in their last 3 away matches
My PredictionsFleetwood 0 Argyle 2
Where to drinkGet yourself to Jim’s Bar before the game with Argyle and take advantage of great offers.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Saturday up-dateHome win would be a tonic for Fleetwood TownFleetwood Town boss John Sheridan is targeting victory against Plymouth Argyle to end the club’s home hoodoo.
Having snapped their losing run with a draw against MK Dons in his first match in charge, Sheridan wants to get the better of his old club and give Town a first home league win since October.
He said: “When you go into the start of the season every manager always says your home form is vital if you are going to go anywhere and achieve anything; usually you are stronger at home than you are away from home.
“When we are at home we’ve got to go in believing that we will beat whoever we are playing.
“We should be the favourites to win the game when you are playing at home and I believe whoever we are playing we should be going into the game thinking we can win.
“It (victory) would be a good lift for everybody involved, it is a long time isn’t it?
“People will take notice if we can get one over on Plymouth.
“I’ve got to try and get the best out of my team, we have the players to win the game and hopefully on the day we will prove that.”
Another battle lies in the goalkeeping department with Sheridan pleased he has the choice of Alex Cairns and Chris Neal.
Cairns started the season in goal before Neal was chosen over the festive period – only for Cairns to be recalled.
“I’ve got two very good keepers who are competing to be number one,” Sheridan said.
“I would not class any as a number one and I think the lads themselves see it that way that they are competing with each other.
“That is the best way for me competing and whoever I pick I’d be very comfortable with.”
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Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:48 pm
