One Game at a Time: Against All Odds
Oh! Cobblers (A) May 2nd
The final weekend of the formal season beckons and, for Argyle fans, mixed sentiments.
On the positive side, given the appalling start to the season, aggravated by an injury crisis unprecedented in recent seasons, to be still in contention, however tenuously, to be able to extend the season into the tombola that are the play-offs, is an achievement few expected Tom Cleverley and his men would be capable of achieving.
In truth, few expected Tom Cleverley to even still be in post as the team slumped to the foot of the table, before the solitary goal win in the reverse fixture for last weekend saw them swap places with latest visitors Port Vale.
The negative, not only the costly start, but also the occasional brain fart of a result that meant that we could, and probably should have been sat safely in that budgeted top six position by now. Bolton at home, against ten men, a penalty (for what was in fact, as we will see, the second softest handball, we conceded all season) and an own goal. Dominating the six toes playing with the wind and still having to come back twice to grab a point. A weak away trip to Rotherham where, at no point, did we look like winning, and, finally, a tired legs performance at Valley Parade where a win would have again transformed our prospects of making the top six.
A full forty-six game season is what counts though, and with relegated Vale and then a trip to fast plummeting Northampton, themselves long gone in the survival stakes, as the final two fixtures, Argyle once again had to play the games, not the occasion and see how the dice fell elsewhere.
In a sold-out Home Park (again) where it seems even potential financial agents’ intent on encouraging that elusive investment into the club have to make do with a seat in the away fans section, for once Argyle started the way we always hope they will. The very first incisive attack saw ex Valiant Tolaj thrust a dagger of a pass through the heart of the retreating Vale defence for his strike partner Pepple to add some gravy to his Poutine and smash the ball home for an early lead.
For those stuck far away, watching as if on teletext of yore via BBC Sport, seeing the early goal and the scorers name addition was a relief. One nil up and plenty of time for more…cue the procession. And at the next refresh of the screen, moments later, a second name under the Greens, with Vale still on nil. Followed by the realisation that said name came with a red annotation indicating that Argyle would play the remaining eighty-five minutes plus, missing their first-choice keeper, and stripped of the unfortunate Watts, sacrificed for Ashby-Hammond to replace Hazard, and, frankly, having to do it the hard (or Argyle) way.
That Vale then dominated possession was undeniable. Argyle, however, stayed with their two up front, even after a decent Vale corner routine ended with a free header planted into the Devonport end to equalise.
The start of the second half, and once again Argyle, and Pepple were fast out of the blocks. Bim shrugged off the attention of the Vale defence and placed a pluperfect shot in off the far post to give Argyle the lead. Curtis’s boot polishing celebration the perfect way to acknowledge the Canadians singular stat of being the leading goal scorer in all four divisions for 2026 so far.
Led by the warrior that is Joe Edwards, with outstanding performances in terms of energy and effort from Dale, Curtis and Boateng, plus the rock that is Alex Mitchell repelling all aerial assaults, Argyle gave hope to the home support. In turn the home support gave their all, and none more so that the Devonport end drummer whose blistered hands come the end were every bit as committed as the exhausted Argyle side who held on for the essential win. This was a true team effort from all who attended. Loud, proud and surely impressive to visiting interested parties. Time will tell.
Elsewhere, as Stevenage stumbled from a leading position at Doncaster, who could and perhaps should have won, and Luton with their umpty third penalty of the season (which did look a stone waller this time, but seriously, how many do they get) despatching Barnsley, themselves a cross bar width away from a draw, the play off positions solidified a little. Bolton and Bradford played out a convenient draw, and Stockport won the Peterborough leg of their three-home game sandwich, which combined with losing the Mansfield and subsequent Port Vale, soggy white Warburton sliced outer wrappings, ended with Dave Challinor suffering a bout of footballing dyspepsia.
Which leaves the final game of the season. Argyle have to win. And even that may not be enough. The ins and outs are well known and not for further dissection here. And in a season where OGAAT has been movie themed, well, we have seen this movie before.
In many ways the good news is we cannot rely on third parties alone. We have in the past seen how unreliable teams become in the final weeks and games. Sunderland at Southend, that meant a home win against Scunthorpe wasn’t enough to maintain our League One status in Simon Hallett’s first year of ownership. Or the more recent fallibility of the Coventry goalkeeper which allowed Luton to escape our grasp in the Championship and which meant any Great Escape themed fancy dress plans for the Leeds game were on hold, even though the side still went out and defeated Preston North End, knowing they were doomed. It didn't do Luton any good either.
The fatalistic amongst the faithful will also note with some trepidation the dismal form of Northampton running into the fixture. Currently on a run of ten successive defeats after a one nil home reverse against Barnsley, and with only two draws in their last fourteen games, it should be remembered that Northampton have managed to stop Argyle winning at Sixfields in the last two seasons that they were relegated. One of those was the season when Argyle also made a mad dash from a desperate position under Derek Adams, only to run out of players and form at the death.
The final game that season, when a mathematical outside combination of results meant Argyle could still gate crash the play-offs ended at Gillingham where Andy Carroll tribute act Tom Eaves, a perennial thorn in Argyle defences sides had the last laugh on a boisterous Argyle away end with a hat-trick in a five two win. And, of course, we all know where he ended up for this season as he scored the opener in the Cobblers three nil win at Home Park. Horses for courses, thus it looks like we will have to score twice at least to win, to overcome the Eaves factor.
If you want to take a truly fatalistic look at the end of season potential for delight and disaster to combine, Argyle have the pretty much the full bingo card. Leading at Carlisle to bring down the curtain on the last centuries full season, before a Jimmy Glass goal gave United a win to save their season and third tier status.
Seven years earlier, and the Jack Walker funded Blackburn, courtesy (if that could ever be the right adjective for him) of a David Speedie hat-trick, complete with fence grabbing taunting snarl at the Devonport End saw one up and one down at Home Park Sadly, of course, we were the down.
Two years later and the anti-climax so pointless Richard Osman was probably somewhere in the crowd blocking the view of twenty or so fans. An eight one romp at Hartlepool, yet most of the game was spent knowing that Port Vale’s win at Brighton was going to render the result an interesting but irrelevant footnote in the history of the “Nearly Men” of Peter Shilton, so expertly chronicled in Paul Roberts wonderful book. That at least led to a play-off campaign, although we were nailed on for that before the final game.
At least if the fates align, Argyle will not suffer the curse of finishing third and then being eliminated, as happened in the semi-final against Burnley. It is only two seasons ago that a Joe 90 goal saw Argyle save their Championship status by beating Hull on the final day. The season before an away win at a relegated side ( Vale again, it's like they are obsessed with being there at the death so to speak) saw the 101 men clinch a famous title and promotion.
So, Saturday brings a fixture list which means for one day only we might be as interested in Wigan pies as Cornish Pasties. Callum Wright might make his most telling contribution of his Argyle career (Shrewsbury away header notwithstanding) if he alice bands in a ninety third minute header to deny Stevenage a maximum and costs a local steward his job. Bim and Tolaj can potentially extend their Argyle careers before apparently inevitable lucrative moves to bigger fish like Watford and Preston by racking up the forty goals in a season pairing that we haven’t had since Mariner and Rafferty hit 47 in 74/5. Potentially Ashby-Hammond can do the same for Conor Hazard. Schumacher and Cissoko can do themselves and us (and football) a favour against Lootown and deny them the points they need. Cissoko likes a home game against them as I recall.
Argyle feature prominently in a list of recent sides who have either been promoted or relegated most frequently, and for sure following our team over recent seasons has never been dull.
One final attack of the bubonic plague to overcome as illness sweeps Home Park with untimely accuracy.
One last hurrah to expend a season that looked over before Christmas.
Will it be Wemberley or Wembury?
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( And Wigan and Bolton, just this once)
Oh! Cobblers (A) May 2nd
The final weekend of the formal season beckons and, for Argyle fans, mixed sentiments.
On the positive side, given the appalling start to the season, aggravated by an injury crisis unprecedented in recent seasons, to be still in contention, however tenuously, to be able to extend the season into the tombola that are the play-offs, is an achievement few expected Tom Cleverley and his men would be capable of achieving.
In truth, few expected Tom Cleverley to even still be in post as the team slumped to the foot of the table, before the solitary goal win in the reverse fixture for last weekend saw them swap places with latest visitors Port Vale.
The negative, not only the costly start, but also the occasional brain fart of a result that meant that we could, and probably should have been sat safely in that budgeted top six position by now. Bolton at home, against ten men, a penalty (for what was in fact, as we will see, the second softest handball, we conceded all season) and an own goal. Dominating the six toes playing with the wind and still having to come back twice to grab a point. A weak away trip to Rotherham where, at no point, did we look like winning, and, finally, a tired legs performance at Valley Parade where a win would have again transformed our prospects of making the top six.
A full forty-six game season is what counts though, and with relegated Vale and then a trip to fast plummeting Northampton, themselves long gone in the survival stakes, as the final two fixtures, Argyle once again had to play the games, not the occasion and see how the dice fell elsewhere.
In a sold-out Home Park (again) where it seems even potential financial agents’ intent on encouraging that elusive investment into the club have to make do with a seat in the away fans section, for once Argyle started the way we always hope they will. The very first incisive attack saw ex Valiant Tolaj thrust a dagger of a pass through the heart of the retreating Vale defence for his strike partner Pepple to add some gravy to his Poutine and smash the ball home for an early lead.
For those stuck far away, watching as if on teletext of yore via BBC Sport, seeing the early goal and the scorers name addition was a relief. One nil up and plenty of time for more…cue the procession. And at the next refresh of the screen, moments later, a second name under the Greens, with Vale still on nil. Followed by the realisation that said name came with a red annotation indicating that Argyle would play the remaining eighty-five minutes plus, missing their first-choice keeper, and stripped of the unfortunate Watts, sacrificed for Ashby-Hammond to replace Hazard, and, frankly, having to do it the hard (or Argyle) way.
That Vale then dominated possession was undeniable. Argyle, however, stayed with their two up front, even after a decent Vale corner routine ended with a free header planted into the Devonport end to equalise.
The start of the second half, and once again Argyle, and Pepple were fast out of the blocks. Bim shrugged off the attention of the Vale defence and placed a pluperfect shot in off the far post to give Argyle the lead. Curtis’s boot polishing celebration the perfect way to acknowledge the Canadians singular stat of being the leading goal scorer in all four divisions for 2026 so far.
Led by the warrior that is Joe Edwards, with outstanding performances in terms of energy and effort from Dale, Curtis and Boateng, plus the rock that is Alex Mitchell repelling all aerial assaults, Argyle gave hope to the home support. In turn the home support gave their all, and none more so that the Devonport end drummer whose blistered hands come the end were every bit as committed as the exhausted Argyle side who held on for the essential win. This was a true team effort from all who attended. Loud, proud and surely impressive to visiting interested parties. Time will tell.
Elsewhere, as Stevenage stumbled from a leading position at Doncaster, who could and perhaps should have won, and Luton with their umpty third penalty of the season (which did look a stone waller this time, but seriously, how many do they get) despatching Barnsley, themselves a cross bar width away from a draw, the play off positions solidified a little. Bolton and Bradford played out a convenient draw, and Stockport won the Peterborough leg of their three-home game sandwich, which combined with losing the Mansfield and subsequent Port Vale, soggy white Warburton sliced outer wrappings, ended with Dave Challinor suffering a bout of footballing dyspepsia.
Which leaves the final game of the season. Argyle have to win. And even that may not be enough. The ins and outs are well known and not for further dissection here. And in a season where OGAAT has been movie themed, well, we have seen this movie before.
In many ways the good news is we cannot rely on third parties alone. We have in the past seen how unreliable teams become in the final weeks and games. Sunderland at Southend, that meant a home win against Scunthorpe wasn’t enough to maintain our League One status in Simon Hallett’s first year of ownership. Or the more recent fallibility of the Coventry goalkeeper which allowed Luton to escape our grasp in the Championship and which meant any Great Escape themed fancy dress plans for the Leeds game were on hold, even though the side still went out and defeated Preston North End, knowing they were doomed. It didn't do Luton any good either.
The fatalistic amongst the faithful will also note with some trepidation the dismal form of Northampton running into the fixture. Currently on a run of ten successive defeats after a one nil home reverse against Barnsley, and with only two draws in their last fourteen games, it should be remembered that Northampton have managed to stop Argyle winning at Sixfields in the last two seasons that they were relegated. One of those was the season when Argyle also made a mad dash from a desperate position under Derek Adams, only to run out of players and form at the death.
The final game that season, when a mathematical outside combination of results meant Argyle could still gate crash the play-offs ended at Gillingham where Andy Carroll tribute act Tom Eaves, a perennial thorn in Argyle defences sides had the last laugh on a boisterous Argyle away end with a hat-trick in a five two win. And, of course, we all know where he ended up for this season as he scored the opener in the Cobblers three nil win at Home Park. Horses for courses, thus it looks like we will have to score twice at least to win, to overcome the Eaves factor.
If you want to take a truly fatalistic look at the end of season potential for delight and disaster to combine, Argyle have the pretty much the full bingo card. Leading at Carlisle to bring down the curtain on the last centuries full season, before a Jimmy Glass goal gave United a win to save their season and third tier status.
Seven years earlier, and the Jack Walker funded Blackburn, courtesy (if that could ever be the right adjective for him) of a David Speedie hat-trick, complete with fence grabbing taunting snarl at the Devonport End saw one up and one down at Home Park Sadly, of course, we were the down.
Two years later and the anti-climax so pointless Richard Osman was probably somewhere in the crowd blocking the view of twenty or so fans. An eight one romp at Hartlepool, yet most of the game was spent knowing that Port Vale’s win at Brighton was going to render the result an interesting but irrelevant footnote in the history of the “Nearly Men” of Peter Shilton, so expertly chronicled in Paul Roberts wonderful book. That at least led to a play-off campaign, although we were nailed on for that before the final game.
At least if the fates align, Argyle will not suffer the curse of finishing third and then being eliminated, as happened in the semi-final against Burnley. It is only two seasons ago that a Joe 90 goal saw Argyle save their Championship status by beating Hull on the final day. The season before an away win at a relegated side ( Vale again, it's like they are obsessed with being there at the death so to speak) saw the 101 men clinch a famous title and promotion.
So, Saturday brings a fixture list which means for one day only we might be as interested in Wigan pies as Cornish Pasties. Callum Wright might make his most telling contribution of his Argyle career (Shrewsbury away header notwithstanding) if he alice bands in a ninety third minute header to deny Stevenage a maximum and costs a local steward his job. Bim and Tolaj can potentially extend their Argyle careers before apparently inevitable lucrative moves to bigger fish like Watford and Preston by racking up the forty goals in a season pairing that we haven’t had since Mariner and Rafferty hit 47 in 74/5. Potentially Ashby-Hammond can do the same for Conor Hazard. Schumacher and Cissoko can do themselves and us (and football) a favour against Lootown and deny them the points they need. Cissoko likes a home game against them as I recall.
Argyle feature prominently in a list of recent sides who have either been promoted or relegated most frequently, and for sure following our team over recent seasons has never been dull.
One final attack of the bubonic plague to overcome as illness sweeps Home Park with untimely accuracy.
One last hurrah to expend a season that looked over before Christmas.
Will it be Wemberley or Wembury?
COYG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
( And Wigan and Bolton, just this once)
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