Ahead of the Game - 'Don Worry...'

..it has certainly been a summer of change for Argyle, but changes we are all looking forward to witnessing ahead of our much anticipated Sky Bet Football League 2 opener away at AFC Wimbledon, on Saturday.

Argyle will be looking to secure their first opening day victory in five seasons when they take on Neal Ardley’s Dons, at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

The Greens’ last opening day victory came at St Mary’s in our 2010-11 League 1 campaign where Luke Summerfield’s 47th-minute strike condemned now Premier League side Southampton to defeat.

Since then it has proved difficult for Argyle to register an opening day win, and bucking this trend will not be made any easier against a Wimbledon side who we have failed to beat in our last six matches – drawing four and losing two.

However, we can take positives from the fact that our last victory over the Wombles came in Kingston upon Thames, when goals from Onsimor Bhasera and Nick Chadwick bettered Jack Midson’s solo strike as we returned to Devon with the three points and a 2-1 victory. We have actually never lost at their ground. 

Going further, Derek’s attacking-minded approach and the signings of Craig Tanner, Jake Jervis, Graham Carey, Gregg Wylde, Josh Simpson, Hiram Boateng and the returning Gary Sawyer, along with the bag-load of goals we scored in pre-season, gives us optimism going into our tie against Ardley’s men.

There will be more than just three points and pride riding on the result of our opener though, as two of Britain’s top rock bands have entered into a bet, with a huge visible forfeit for the loser.

Bastille drummer Woody, an avid supporter of the Pilgrims, and lead vocalist of Mumford & Sons, Marcus Mumford, a Dons’ fan, have stipulated that if either of their teams were to lose then they would be obliged to display the flag of the winning team in front of thousands of fans during their sets at Reading and Leeds festivals at the end of August.

Roll on Saturday!