Tue 30th Aug
Kick-off 19:00

PLY Argyle

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BRR Bristol Rovers

Match Preview Bristol Rovers

Sync Fixtures

Argyle face Bristol Rovers on Tuesday evening in the first game in this season’s Papa John’s Trophy. The game kicks off at Home Park at 7pm.

Rovers and Argyle are in Group E, along with Swindon Town and Crystal Palace Under-21s. The teams will all play one another, with the top two teams advancing to the next stage.

Teams score three points for winning a game in 90 minutes. If it is a draw, each side will score one point, and a penalty shoot-out will then take place, with the winners scoring an extra point.

This is the sixth season with the competition in its current format, and Argyle are yet to get through the group stage. Rovers have got through three times in the last four seasons, including a run to the semi-final.

The two teams met in the group stage in September 2019. The game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Argyle winning a shoot-out 5-3.

This will be the 149th meeting between the two sides in all competitions. There is no team that Argyle have faced more in our history.

Rovers were promoted last season from Sky Bet League Two – in extraordinary circumstances. They had not been in the promotion places all season, and going into the final day they need to win, and turn round a five-goal deficit in goal difference over Northampton Town. Northampton won their game 3-1, but Rovers triumphed 7-0 over Scunthorpe United, getting promoted on goals scored.

This season, in the league, they began with a 2-1 home defeat to fellow promoted side Forest Green Rovers, before a spectacular 4-0 win away to Burton Albion. A 1-0 home win over Oxford United followed, but consecutive games on the road at Barnsley and Portsmouth yielded 3-0 and 3-1 defeats. On Saturday, at home to Shrewsbury Town, Rovers drew 1-1.

This means they have seven points from six games, putting them in 15th position at this early stage.

In the Carabao Cup, Rovers went out at the first round stage, losing 1-0 at Crawley Town, with a goal from their former striker Tom Nichols.

Striker Aaron Collins has scored half of the eight goals Rovers have mustered, with Ryan Loft, John Marquis, James Connolly and Anthony Evans all chipping in with one each.

Rovers are managed by Joey Barton, who took over in February 2021. He was unable to prevent Rovers’ relegation from League One, but succeeded in bringing them straight back up.

Hughesy Says
“They do the basics really well. That’s what Joey has built his foundations on, in terms of getting the basics done. He likes his defenders to defend, the midfield to get up to people. They will be competitive and aggressive. It will be a tough game, they had a really good season last season.”

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 5pm. 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.

Argyle TV
Live video coverage of the game is available for £10 for both domestic and international supporters. Click here to see details of how to view in your region.

Season Tickets

Jordan Houghton

Argyle 1 
Hardie pen 58 

Bristol Rovers 1 
Loft 50 

A fine save from Callum Burton and Niall Ennis rifling into the top corner ensured a penalty shoot-out victory and the bonus point for Argyle in their first outing in the Papa John’s Trophy for this season. 

Burton saved brilliantly to give the Greens the edge in the spot-kick lottery and Ennis held his nerve with the final penalty to secure a 4-3 shoot-out success. 

The 90 minutes produced plenty of drama and a riveting encounter. Argyle dominated the first period but were hit by a Ryan Loft soon after the restart. 

Ryan Hardie equalised eight minutes later, keeping up the spot-kick theme with a confident effort after Morgan Whittaker had been fouled.  

Argyle boss Steven Schumacher opened the door for young trio Oscar Halls, Jack Endacott and Will Jenkins-Davies to make their mark on the first-team environment, and there was also a first start of the season for goalkeeper Callum Burton. 

The Greens moved the ball around with impressive zip in the early stages before Rovers came back with their own spell of possession, although neither side genuinely threatened in the first ten minutes. 

Halls demonstrated his aerial prowess with an important clearance from Rovers’ third corner in quick succession. Whittaker changed the picture with a weaving run and low cross cleared at the near post by Lewis Gordon. 

The pace of Hardie troubled Glenn Whelan in the right channel but he dragged the shot wide and a couple of whipped crosses from Endacott and Jordan Houghton were just about repelled by the Pirates. 

A delicious curling pass from Macauley Gillesphey released Hardie down the middle but credit to Trevor Clarke for a crucial last-ditch tackle. Gillesphey’s next assist was a stand-up cross to the back post for Joe Edwards, who powered his header against the bar. 

Hardie scuttled an effort into the arms of Anssi Jaakola, as Argyle continued turning the screw. A brilliant cross from Jenkins-Davies came next, volleyed inches wide by the late arriving Edwards. 

For all the Pilgrim pressure, Rovers spurned the final chances of the first half, Luca Hoole steering a header narrowly wide from a deep cross before the same man drilled a low shot from 18 yards that was well saved by Burton. 

Bali Mumba replaced Edwards at the break but Hardie was again the early threat, twisting into space for a shot charged down by Whelan. 

From nowhere, Rovers pinched the lead, Loft racing on to a long ball over the top and firing a low finish past the advancing Burton. Harvey Saunders almost doubled the pain with a long-ranger that just cleared the bar. 

A fine low cross from Endacott eluded the run of Hardie on 56 minutes but Argyle were soon smiling, Whittaker deceiving Clarke in the box and he hauled down the man on loan from Swansea for a clear penalty. 

Hardie did the honours with his third successful spot-kick of the season, calmly sending Jaakola the wrong way for a deserved leveller. The Greens were very nearly in front two minutes later, a dipping free-kick from Whittaker skipping off the surface and Lonwijk’s stooping header flashed wide. 

After three substitutions for Rovers, Finn Azaz replaced Jenkins-Davies and he immediately released Hardie on the right wing for a terrific cross headed inches over by Whittaker. The next pass over the top from Azaz was even better, Hardie cutting it back for a Whittaker shot that fizzed past the post. 

The next twist in a thoroughly entertaining game saw Burton save with his legs from Collins and Argyle instantly countered through Houghton, who cleverly chopped on to his left but was denied by the out-stretched hand of an exposed Jaakola. 

Niall Ennis replaced Hardie for the closing stages and he was the target for yet another superb whipped cross from Endacott, just about defended by Rovers. 

Freddie Issaka for Whittaker was the next Pilgrim switch but there was no further scoring, largely thanks to a goal-saving block from Gillesphey, sending the game to a penalty shoot-out for the bonus point. 

Penalties 
Collins (BR) - Scored  
Azaz (Arg) - Scored 
Evans (BR) - Missed  
Randell (Arg) - Missed 
Greenslade (BR) - Saved  
Gillesphey (Arg) - Scored 
McCormick (BR) - Scored  
Houghton (Arg) - Scored 
Jones (BR) - Scored 
Ennis (Arg) - Scored 

Argyle win 4-3 on penalties.

Argyle: 25 Callum Burton; 21 Nigel Lonwijk, 43 Oscar Halls, 3 Macaulay Gillesphey; 8 Joe Edwards (capt) (17 Bali Mumba H-T), 4 Jordan Houghton, 20 Adam Randell, 42 Jack Endacott; 44 Will Jenkins-Davies (18 Finn Azaz 66), 9 Ryan Hardie (11 Niall Ennis 74), 19 Morgan Whittaker (48 Freddie Issaka 82). Substitutes (not used): 1 Mike Cooper (gk), 7 Matt Butcher, 41 Jeff Forkuo. 

Booked: Whittaker 37 

Bristol Rovers: 32 Anssi Jaakola; 3 Lewis Gordon, 9 John Marquis (10 Aaron Collins 62), 14 Jordan Rossiter, 15 Paul Coutts (capt) (21 Antony Evans 62), 18 Ryan Loft, 20 Trevor Clarke (44 Ryan Jones 71), 22 Harvey Saunders, 25 Glenn Whelan, 30 Luca Hoole (27 Harvey Greenslade 78), 34 Jerry Lawrence (23 Luke McCormick 62). Substitutes (not used): 1 James Belshaw (gk), 5 Alfie Kilgour. 

Booked: Rossiter 88 

Attendance: 2,298 (95 away) 

Referee: Carl Brook