The Pilgrims will play the second of four games in 10 days over the Christmas period when they are away to Cardiff City on Boxing Day
Plymouth Argyle will attempt to continue their four-match unbeaten run in the Championship when they travel to Cardiff City on Boxing Day.
Cardiff came from behind to win 2-1 at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, moving up to 10th place, while Argyle drew 3-3 at Home Park after going 3-1 behind in the 62nd minute against Birmingham City. That result followed a 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers and a 3-2 home defeat over Rotherham United in Steven Schumacher’s final two games as manager.
The Pilgrims will be without defender Dan Scarr, who is serving a three-match suspension after his dismissal against QPR, although Mustapha Bundu might return to the team.
After the match with Birmingham, Argyle director of football Neil Dewsnip expressed optimism that Bundu, who suffered a seriously gashed shin against Rotherham, would be eligible for selection.
After playing for much of the game at QPR with only 10 men, scoring a last-gasp winning goal against Rotherham, and then earning an 86th-minute equalizer from Morgan Whittaker on Saturday, the Pilgrims have had a highly interesting period, not to mention the untimely departure of their manager.
“It seems like the last three games have had a little bit of everything,” Argyle captain Joe Edwards said. We’ve had send-offs, head injuries, and other mishaps in each one.
“It has been a little bit chaotic at times but we are still unbeaten in this little run and we want to keep that going.”
Morgan Whittaker, a former Swansea City forward, will return to Wales on Boxing Day after extending his goal tally to 10 in 23 Championship appearances this season with a late score against Birmingham.
“He’s brilliant, his finishing is one of the best I’ve seen,” Edwards remarked. When it got back to him, he was disappointed that he had not scored in the first half. That brings his season total to ten, which is a tremendous return. You anticipate him to strike the target, and he usually does. He’s been huge for us this year.”
It had been a rocky few days for Argyle after Schumacher left for Stoke City, who drew 0-0 at home to Millwall in his first match, and they appeared doomed against Birmingham when they fell down 3-1.
However, they shown incredible character by persevering despite the temptation to believe that it was not meant to be for them due to the circumstances they found themselves in.
“We have to be proud of how we came back from being two goals down on two occasions,” Edwards added. Other teams and times may have failed us, and it would have been a very frustrating day.
“The week we’ve had, coming back from 2-0 and then 3-1, just shows the character we have among the boys and our ability to stick together.”
“We know we haven’t altered inside our little dressing room. We have the talent in our team; all we have to do now is maintain that belief.”
There will inevitably be much conjecture about who the next Argyle manager will be in the coming days, but Edwards does not feel it will be a distraction for the Pilgrims’ squad.
“I think the easiest part is that it has nothing to do with us players, I guess,” Edwards remarked. We have to concentrate on what we’re doing, and I believe that having so many games in such a short period of time might be a blessing in disguise.
“It’s matchday, matchday, matchday.” At the time, there isn’t much in between. It’s been a tough week, but with individuals like Nance (first team coach Kevin Nancekivell) and Neil (Dewsnip, director of football) on our side, things are looking up.
“All I have to do is keep the boys focused.” We’re in a good spot right now. We’re not changing inside the dressing room, so we can get back to business. We have three major games coming up in which we can truly put our best foot forward.”
Argyle will be hopeful that a change of manager will result in a change of fortune on the road as they seek their first away Championship win of the season against Cardiff at the 12th attempt.
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