Sun 25th Sep
Kick-off 12:30

PLY Argyle

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IPS Ipswich

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22/23 Fixtures

Argyle take on the leaders of Sky Bet League One on Sunday at 12.30pm, as Ipswich Town are the visitors to Home Park. 

Ipswich are unbeaten this season, having won six and drawn three of their nine games so far. Five of those games have been away from home, with Town winning the first four of those, against Forest Green Rovers, Burton Albion, Shrewsbury Town and Accrington Stanley, before a 2-2 draw last Saturday against Sheffield Wednesday. 

Ipswich are managed by Kieran McKenna, who took over the job in December 2021, at a very similar time that Steven Schumacher became Argyle boss. McKenna steered Ipswich to 11th place in League One last season. 

The Tractor Boys have scored 18 goals in the league so far this season, with six of them scored by forward Conor Chaplin, a former Portsmouth, Coventry City and Barnsley player in his second season at Portman Road. Another former Pompey man, Marcus Harness, signed this summer, and has three goals to his name already.

Former Argyle striker Freddie Ladapo, another summer acquisition, has featured in all nine league games so far this season, but is yet to score. Another former Pilgrim, Christian Walton, is expected to keep goal for Ipswich. Ipswich signed Panutche Camara at the end of the recent transfer window, but he is yet to feature for them. 

Each side won their respective home fixture last season. Argyle won 2-1 at Home Park, despite George Edmundson putting Ipswich in front, as Luke Jephcott and Conor Grant scored to turn the game around. At Portman Road in March, Sam Morsy's goal in a 1-0 Ipswich victory ended a run of six straight wins for Argyle. 

Schumacher Says
“Ipswich have, in my opinion, the strongest squad in the league, closely matched by Sheffield Wednesday. It’s going to be a great game, and hopefully one we enjoy. 

“They are good in all departments. They are first in the league in possession, first in forward passes into the opposition box – and top of the table for points."

Argyle Team News
Finn Azaz will miss the game as he is on international duty with Ireland Under-21s. Brendan Galloway is suspended because of his red card against Portsmouth last weekend. Mickel Miller, Conor Grant, and James Bolton are still out though injury. Steven Schumacher gave an update on their progress.

"Conor Grant is getting better, getting stronger. He trained with the youth team on Tuesday and Thursday, and trained with us on Friday, and looked sharp. We'll try to get him minutes in a behind-closed-doors game next Tuesday if we can. He seems confident of where his body is at, and hopefully won't be too much longer. 

"Mickel Miller went to see a specialist last week and got the go-ahead to go to the next phase of his rehab. He had to have a certain amount of weeks off where they didn't do an operation, then had to check if the muscle was healing itself. The specialist was really please with how it is going. He's got to step up his rehab now. I think he is in week eight, and can start running in week ten. He's doing leg weights and core work in preparation to start running in a couple of weeks.

"James Bolton is still not available. It's is tough one, there is something wrong with his foot again. He is having a tough time. I don't know when he is going to be fit."

Tickets
Tickets remain available to purchase online at argyletickets.com. The Home Park Ticket Office will be open until kick-off for supporters wishing to purchase on the day of the fixture.

Turnstiles will open two hours before kick-off, from 10.30pm. Supporters are advised to enter through the turnstile identified on their match ticket. However, if neighbouring turnstiles have shorter queues, supporters are permitted to enter these to speed up access to the stadium.

Pre-Match
There will be a minute's applause to celebrate the life of former Argyle manager Dave Smith, who died recently. 

Argyle TV
International supporters can watch the game for £10. Domestic supporters can listen to an audio commentary for £2.50. Commentary will be provided by Charlie Price and Hasney Aljofree. 

Click here to see what is available in your region.

A pre-match show is available on YouTube for free, hosted by Erin Black and featuring Brian Brian McGlinchey. 

Sky Sports
The game will be live on Sky Sports Football. The kick-off is at 12.30pm, the show starts at midday. David Prutton will host the show, with pundits Aaron McLean and former Argyle forward Jamie Mackie. Commentary will be provided by Gary Weaver and Don Goodman. 
 

22/23 Training Wear

Argyle celebrate taking the lead v Ipswich

Argyle 2 
Mumba 69 
Whittaker 75 

Ipswich Town 1 
Ladapo 39 

Argyle inflicted a first defeat of the season on Sky Bet League One leaders Ipswich Town and, in doing so, leapfrogged the Sunday lunchtime visitors at the top of the table. 

Freddie Ladapo graced his Home Park return with a scruffy opener six minutes before half-time but the Pilgrims fought back with a brace of wonder strikes from Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker to bag three joyful points from a pulsating match. 

Argyle manager Steven Schumacher recalled James Wilson, Danny Mayor, Niall Ennis and Adam Randell, with Macaulay Gillesphey, Ryan Hardie and Jordan Houghton on the bench. Finn Azaz was on international duty and Brendan Galloway suspended. 

Mike Cooper plucked a gentle Luke Woolfenden volley out of the sky for the first shot on target, swiftly followed a lovely move involving Mumba and Whittaker but Danny Mayor’s cross was cleared by the Town defence. 

Kayden Jackson surged down the right for a driven low cross that failed to pick out an Ipswich forward before a corner found former Pilgrim Ladapo for a header directed straight into the arms of Cooper. 

Matt Butcher replied with a break from midfield, halted by alert goalkeeping from another of the Argyle alumni, Christian Walton. Ladapo then sprung the offside trap for a driven shot saved by the body of an advancing Cooper. 

The lively start continued with Adam Randell working room for an angled shot that almost shaved the far post, followed by a swerving effort from Whittaker beaten away by the fists of Walton. 

Randell was then in recovery mode after two hefty, and late, challenges from Marcus Harness and Sam Morsy, both of which led to yellow cards. Argyle broke from the scuffling with a sweeping pass by Whittaker to Mumba, who was unable to steer his shot past the imposing frame of Walton. 

The frenetic pace was terrific viewing in front of the Sky cameras, Morsy next to have a pop with a stabbed effort from 16 yards and Cooper was equal to the challenge.  

Ipswich snatched the lead on 39 minutes, Ladapo latching on to a ricochet in midfield for a shot from the left channel that deflected off the leg of Dan Scarr and looped over Cooper for a very fortunate opener.  

A fine covering tackle from Mumba on Jackson ensured the deficit remained manageable at the break and an outstanding block from Nigel Lonwijk on a Janoi Donacien strike immediately after the restart continued that trend. 

A beautiful incisive pass from Mayor then picked out Whittaker for a delightful spin and shot that scuttled inches wide, as the Green Army noise rose a few notches after a robust challenge floored Niall Ennis. 

Ipswich broke down the right in reply, Jackson and Morsy feeding the ball into the path of Harness for a shot dragged into the side-netting. Argyle turned to the bench on the hour, Sam Cosgrove and Houghton replacing Mayor and Butcher. 

Dan Scarr interrupted a clever move from Town with a near-post clearance before substitute Tyreese John-Jules wriggled into a space for deflected effort palmed wide by Cooper. 

The action returned to the opposite end for a quality equaliser from Mumba, picking up on a headed clearance, jinking his way across the edge of the box and arrowing a fabulous finish past the diving Walton and into the corner of the net.  

The Greens were now in rampant mood, Ennis bustling through two tackles before threading a pass wide to Whittaker, who cut inside for a low strike superbly tipped wide by Walton at full stretch. 

If Argyle’s leveller was something special, the second from Whittaker was just as good, as he won the ball from a harried Town defence, exchanged passes with Joe Edwards, and lashed a terrific strike into the top corner.  

The standard and temp of the game was an amazing advert for League One football and a credit to both sides, as teenager Will Jenkins Davies entered the fray to replace Ennis for the final 10 minutes. 

A searing drive from Jackson grazed the side-netting for Ipswich and there was an unbelievable final twist, Walton coming up for a corner and rising highest for a header expertly tipped on to the bar by Cooper to ensure three magical points for the Greens.  

Argyle: 1 Mike Cooper, 5 James Wilson, 6 Dan Scarr, 21 Nigel Lonwijk (3 Macaulay Gillesphey 90); 17 Bali Mumba, 20 Adam Randell, 7 Matt Butcher (4 Jordan Houghton 61), 8 Joe Edwards (capt); 19 Morgan Whittaker (15 Conor Grant 90), 11 Niall Ennis (44 Will Jenkins Davies 83), 10 Danny Mayor (16 Sam Cosgrove 61). Substitutes: 25 Callum Burton (gk), 9 Ryan Hardie. 

Booked: 

Ipswich: 1 Christian Walton, 3 Leif Davis (29 Kyle Edwards 80), 4 George Edmundson, 5 Sam Morsy (capt), 6 Luke Woolfenden, 8 Lee Evans, 9 Freddie Ladapo (24 Kane Vincent-Young 59), 10 Conor Chaplin (18 Gassan Ahadme 80), 11 Marcus Harness (14 Tyreese John-Jules 59), 19 Kayden Jackson, 44 Janoi Donacien. Substitutes: 31 Vaclav Hladky, 2 Richard Keogh, 12 Dominic Ball. 

Booked: Harness 20, Morsy 22, Edmundson 66, Evans 71 

Attendance: 15,480 (1,081 away) 

Referee: Scott Oldham