Wimbledon v Argyle - Reasons to be Cheerful

IT is not long now until the long summer's wait is over and Argyle take to the field once more. Feeling optimistic? HADEN TYE explains why we should be...

The First Date...
Argyle have never lost on August 8, winning twice and drawing twice on this date. The last fixture the Pilgrims played on this date was in 2009, against Crystal Palace. Krisztian Timar put Argyle ahead after five minutes at Selhurst Park, with Alan Lee equalising with a header - the final-score 1-1 as Argyle kicked off their 2009-10 campaign with a point away from home.

Goals, Goals, Goals...
An unbeaten pre-season for Argyle under Derek Adams has been encouraging. The Pilgrims won five, and drew one, scoring 18 and conceding 10. That's an average of three goals scored per game.

Kings of the Meadow...
Argyle have never lost at AFC Wimbledon's Cherry Red Record Stadium. Away from home the Pilgrims have won once, and drawn three times since the sides first met there in the 2011-12 season. Argyle won that fixture 2-1, with Onismor Bhasera and Nick Chadwick grabbing the goals. Argyle even played there before AFC Wimledon existed, beating Kingstonian 2-1 on the ground in the FA Cup in 1995. 

New Faces...
Saturday's game will be the chance to see up to six new Argyle players.  Graham Carey, Jake Jervis, Gregg Wylde and Josh Simpson have all signed one-year-contracts at Home Park, with Hiram Boateng and Craig Tanner joining on six-month-loans. All could play their first games in an Argyle jersey, as could Gary Sawyer, returning after a five-and-a-half-year absence. 

Woody Good Bet...
One of Argyle's celebrity supporters, Bastille's drummer Woody, has had a bet with AFC Wimbledon fan Marcus Mumford, from Mumford and Sons. Woody has be that Argyle will beat the Dons, and Marcus has backed the Dons to beat Argyle on the first day. The loser of the bet will have to fly the winning teams' flag at two festivals; Reading and Leeds.