Highlights: Bristol City 3-1 MK Dons
Posted: Monday, July 26th 2021
Author
MansionBet Match Preview: Plymouth Argyle (A)
Monday, July 26th 2021
A second City squad head for Home Park to complete the Devon double-header on Tuesday.
The staff get to see how the players fare against Plymouth Argyle in what will be the penultimate pre-season friendly, after a meeting with Exeter City at Cliff Hill Training Ground earlier in the day.
City supporters should note that tickets are available and on-sale now.
Plymouth ended the 2020/21 season eight points adrift of relegation, surviving what proved to be a tough run-in for Ryan Lowe’s side. They picked up eight points (W2, D2) from their last ten matches, which included six defeats from their final seven fixtures but now they prepare for better fortunes and a fresh start at the dawn of a new campaign.
These two clubs are no strangers having played each other twice in the opening round of the Carabao Cup in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons. A 5-0 win saw City cruise into the next round in the first of those fixtures, en-route to a memorable semi-final cup run, but the Pilgrims held out for a 1-0 win almost a year later. However, between 2007/08-2009/10 both teams competed in the Championship with an equal head-to-head record over the three seasons (W3, D3, L3).
Fast forward to the present and Argyle are already planning for another League One campaign and the chance to fight for promotion back to the second tier, where they last competed 11 years ago. They have won the signature of former Carlisle centre-back Macaulay Gillesphey from Australian club Brisbane Roar on a two-year contract, and they have swooped for Walsall defender Dan Scarr. Meanwhile, forward Luke Jephcott, their top goalscorer last season has signed a new two-year deal and Conor Grant, after bagging 12 assists in all competitions last term, has also penned a contract extension.
For the Pilgrims, this will be their third pre-season test against Championship opponents, after 2-1 defeats to Swansea City and Middlesbrough, yet Lowe is "more than happy" by what his team has shown in those games.
PLYMOUTH PROFILE
Formed: 1886
Stadium: Home Park
Nickname: Pilgrims, Argyle
Manager: Ryan Lowe
Finish last season: 18th, Sky Bet League One
Honours:
-
Third Division, pre-League One equivalent (4)
-
2001/02 Fourth Tier, pre-League Two
⚽️ Watch: Highlights from the 3-1 win v MK Dons
📍 MATCH DETAILS
Where: Home Park
When: Tuesday, July 27th, 6pm KO
Competition: Pre-season friendly
👀 ONE TO WATCH
Midfielder Conor Grant continues to prove a popular figure with the Pilgrims fanbase after laying on 12 assists last season, alongside four goals and three Man of the Match displays, according to WhoScored.com, which led to his new contract offer back in June.
He went on to be runner-up in Plymouth Live’s 2020/21 Argyle Player-of-the-Year poll, finishing third in the club’s official end-of-season awards.
Grant's long-range drive against MK Dons went on to win the Sky Bet League One Goal of the Month award.
⏮ MATCH REWIND...
Bristol City 5-0 Plymouth Argyle
08.08.2017
Carabao Cup Round One
Ashton Gate
An electric first-half display served to completely shatter Plymouth Argyle’s hopes of a Carabao Cup upset at Ashton Gate.
Four of City’s five goals without reply were scored in the opening period, as Jens Hegeler, Nathan Baker, Korey Smith and Freddie Hinds all breached a much-changed visiting defence.
Substitute Jamie Paterson added City’s fifth with a picture book goal to round off a much-deserved win.
🆚 HEAD TO HEAD
Bristol City
Matches*: 65
Won: 26
Drew: 13
Lost: 23
Stats below based on the 2020/21 season...
Goals scored*: 57
Goals conceded*: 73
Championship position: 19th
Carabao Cup: Round Three
FA Cup: Round Five
Yellow cards*: 54
Red cards*: 3
Top goalscorer*: Nahki Wells 11
Most assists*: Antoine Semenyo 6
Best average rating (Opta): Tomas Kalas 6.95
Possession: 47.3%
Passing percentage: 70.5%
Tackle success percentage: 61.2%
Average aerial duels won: 24.4
*Stats available for all competitions
Plymouth Argyle
Matches*: 65
Won: 23
Drew: 13
Lost: 26
Stats below based on the 2020/21 season...
Goals scored*: 65
Goals conceded*: 95
League One position: 18th
Carabao Cup: Round Two
FA Cup: Round Four
EFL Trophy: Did not qualify beyond group stage
Yellow cards: 75
Red cards: 5
Top goalscorer*: Luke Jephcott 18
Most assists: Conor Grant 12
Best average rating (Opta): George Cooper 6.9
Possession: 49.9%
Passing percentage: 75.4%
Tackle success percentage: 72.9%
Average aerial duels won: 17
*Stats available for all competitions
Latest News
Also from Bristol Sport
Bristol Flyers 2022/23 schedule revealed
Bristol Flyers' 2022/23 BBL Championship schedule has been revealed.
Posted: Thursday, June 30th 2022 • Basketball
RFU announce ten-year strategy for Premier 15s
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has announced an ambitious ten-year strategy to professionalise the Premier 15s.
Posted: Thursday, June 30th 2022 • Rugby
Xledger expands its partnership with Bristol Bears
Bristol-Based finance software company Xledger has extended its partnership to unify its position as back-of-shirt sponsor for Bears Men, Bears Women, Academy.
Posted: Thursday, June 30th 2022 • Bristol Sport
Xledger Expands Its Partnership With Bristol Flyers
Xledger has extended its partnership to unify its position as back-of-shirt sponsor for Bristol Flyers and Bristol Bears ahead of the 2022/23 season.
Posted: Thursday, June 30th 2022 • Basketball
Bristol Sport and Xledger Empower Ambition With New Three-Year Deal
Bristol Sport has today confirmed a renewed three-year partnership with Bristol-Based Finance Software Company Xledger.
Posted: Thursday, June 30th 2022 • Bristol Sport