Sat 26th Feb
League One
Kick-off 15:00

PLY Argyle

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ROT Rotherham

Training

Argyle entertain the Sky Bet League One leaders on Saturday when Rotherham United visit Home Park.

The Greens suffered their first defeat in six games on Tuesday night, going down 2-0 at Cambridge United.

It brought an end to a four match winning streak that had seen the Pilgrims climb back into the play off places in the division.

Speaking ahead of the game, Steven Schumacher said, “We need to have belief and have confidence that we can get a result.

“The lads have been on a brilliant run, played some good football and have won four on the spin.

“There is no doom and gloom that we lost on Tuesday night against Cambridge, we have drawn a line under that and need to get going and prepare again for Saturday.”

That defeat was the first time since a 3-0 loss at home to Wycombe Wanderers in November that Argyle have failed to score in a game.

They had netted 13 times in their previous five league matches and are amongst the highest scorers in the league.

Games with Rotherham in recent years have generally been tight affairs.

Prior to the 2-0 win for the Millers on the opening day, the previous five meetings have either ended in a draw or been settled by a single goal.

The last time Rotherham came to Devon, Graham Carey and Joel Grant scored for the Pilgrims in a 2-1 win in April 2018.

It looks like an almost certainty that Rotherham will bounce straight back to the Sky Bet Championship at the first time of asking, as they are six points clear at the top of the table.

They have a nine point buffer to third placed Milton Keynes Dons and are unbeaten in eight matches.

Steven said, “You want to play against the best and in my opinion, Rotherham are the best in the division so it should be a good day in front of a full house.

“When we went there earlier on in the season, they were too strong for us on the day, but we have improved and it’ll be a good test for us to see how far we’ve come.

“We know what their strengths are, they are powerful and good from set plays, so we have to be wary of that.”

In the 33 league matches Rotherham have played this season, they have scored 60 goals and conceded just 19.

That is the lowest in the division and is an area of particular strength.

They have conceded just three goals in their last 10 matches and have kept clean sheets in their last four away matches.

TEAM NEWS

Dan Scarr, Brendan Galloway and George Cooper are still long term injury concerns for Argyle who could welcome back captain Joe Edwards after he missed the last game.

Steven Sessegnon, who made his debut at Cambridge United on Tuesday night, could be in line for his first appearance at Home Park.

Rotherham will be without Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg who is likely to be out for the remainder of the season with a hamstring injury.

Joe Mattock and Rarmani Edmunds-Green have both returned to training this week and could be in contention for the weekend.

TICKET NEWS

Tickets are still available for the game at Home Park and can be bought online at www.argyletickets.com, over the phone on 01752907700 or in person at the Home Park Ticket Office.

ARGYLE TV

If you cannot make the game then it is available to watch on Argyle TV for international subscribers, or to listen to for domestic fans for just £2.50.

Our pre-match show will be free to watch on the club's YouTube page from 2pm. Details on packages available to you can be found here.

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Danny Mayor dancing into space against Rotherham

Argyle 0 

Rotherham United 1 
Smith 63 

A tight game between two top teams was ultimately decided by a Michael Smith strike just past the hour, giving leaders Rotherham three more valuable points in the promotion race. 

Argyle knocked on the door all afternoon but a combination of good goalkeeping, stubborn defending and an occasionally wayward shooting radar added up to a frustrating at the Theatre of Greens. 

Argyle boss Steven Schumacher made four changes from the midweek defeat at Cambridge, with Ryan Broom, Adam Randell, Niall Ennis and Luke Jephcott dropping to the bench. Captain Joe Edwards returned alongside Jordan Houghton, Jordon Garrick and Ryan Hardie, making his 100th appearance as a Pilgrim. 

Rotherham arrived at Home Park on a run of eight league games unbeaten and former Pilgrim Freddie Ladapo reacquainted himself with the Green Army by lashing a rising drive into the side-netting. 

Argyle found their attacking momentum with Danny Mayor popping up in pockets of space and one swift turn on the edge of the box led to a dipping half-volley that swerved away from the far post. 

Silky play from Houghton started the next foray, as he turned and fed a pass to Mayor, who shuffled the ball to Conor Grant for a cross met by the head of Garrick, and Rotherham ‘keeper Josh Vickers could only watch in hope as the effort struck the upright. 

Edwards was twice blocked from the rebound before Mayor curled into the arms of Vickers. Argyle’s number 10 was once again in electric form, forcing his way inside from the left for another strike flashed narrowly off target. 

The Millers were unable to cope with Mayor, who danced into space yet again for a scuttling shot palmed wide by Vickers. At the other end, a super challenge from James Bolton thwarted a Ladapo break. 

A searing drive from Ben Wiles then whistled past Mike Cooper’s right-hand post but the Argyle custodian was called into action from the next attack, quickly advancing to block a Ladapo shot with his legs. 

A fascinating first half ended with a Garrick curler sent wide from 25 yards, while Rotherham opened the restart with a swift break down the right and Smith’s low cross thankfully evaded everyone. 

The Greens responded with a Hardie surge down the middle but his square pass had just too much juice for Garrick to reach. Moments later, Hardie did find his strike-partner, who opened his foot for a bobbling effort steered inches wide. 

Ennis for Garrick was the first Argyle change on the hour, quickly followed by a double change from the Millers, who took the lead almost immediately, as Smith found space in the right channel and rifled a low finish back beyond Cooper. 

Ennis attempted the swift riposte with a shot charged down by Michael Ihiekwe and the Greens looked to freshen their ranks for the final 20 minutes, Panutche Camara withdrawn for Broom. 

Argyle then created arguably their best chance with Hardie brilliantly controlling a ball over the top from Bolton. He then cut back inside with Rotherham scrambling in retreat but the left-shot was dragged just wide. 

As the Pilgrims looked to throw men forward, a counter by Ladapo forced the best from Edwards in recovering to make a crucial challenge. A combination of Cooper and Bolton then did enough to repel a Smith shot.  

Back to Argyle, and Hardie beat the offside trap for a surge down the left but he was denied by an excellent save from Vickers. Jephcott for Houghton was the final roll of the Green dice. 

The Pilgrims kept on asking questions but the Rotherham defence just about had the answers to cling on for the win.  

Argyle (3-5-2): 1 Mike Cooper; 5 James Wilson, 2 James Bolton, 3 Macaulay Gillesphey; 8 Joe Edwards (capt), 28 Panutche Camara (7 Ryan Broom 72), 4 Jordan Houghton (31 Luke Jephcott 84), 10 Danny Mayor, 15 Conor Grant; 9 Ryan Hardie, 14 Jordon Garrick (11 Niall Ennis 59). Substitutes (not used): 25 Callum Burton (gk), 17 Steven Sessegnon, 20 Adam Randell, 33 Romoney Crichlow. 

Booked: Camara 26, Edwards 29 

Rotherham United (3-5-2): 31 Josh Vickers; 2 Wes Harding, 20 Michael Ihiekwe (capt), 3 Joe Mattock (21 Angus MacDonald 79); 11 Chiedozie Ogbene, 18 Oliver Rathbone, 4 Dan Barlaser (22 Hakeem Odoffin 61), 8 Ben Wiles, 17 Shane Ferguson (7 Jordi Osei-Tutu 61); 10 Freddie Ladapo, 24 Michael Smith. Substitutes (not used): 1 Viktor Johansson (gk), 6 Richard Wood, 16 Jamie Lindsay, 19 Joshua Kayode. 

Booked: Barlaser 25, Rathbone 82 

Attendance: 14,193 (689 away) 

Referee: Will Finnie