Argyle v Northampton - Three Reasons

HADEN Tye has been Cobbling together some facts about some recent tangles with Northampton Town - and a spooky fact about March 7 - to find three reasons why Argyle can be victorious on Saturday...

1) And the Greens go March-ing on...

Argyle have never lost a match at home on March 7, with four wins and seven draws at Home Park in the previous 11 home fixtures on that day.

The all-time March 7 highlight for the Pilgrims came in 1959 when Argyle thumped Mansfield Town 8-3, in a game that Mansfield scored two own goals. The other scorers were; Alex Govan, Harry Penk, Johnny Williams (2), Jimmy Gauld and Wilf Carter. 

The most recent home fixture on March 7 was a 2-2 draw with Reading in 2009, with Argyle's goals coming from Paul Gallagher and current Royals player Jamie Mackie.

2) Lew, Lew, Lew...

The prospect of facing Lewis Alessandra will give Northampton defenders a shiver down their spine. The Pilgrims forward has scored in each of his three matches against Northampton.

Alessandra bagged a 90th minute winner in November 2013 when Argyle beat Northampton 1-0 at Home Park, and just three months later he scored the Pilgrims' second in a 2-0 win at Sixfields Stadium.

In December, Alessandra added to his scoring record against the Cobblers, scoring Argyle's third in a 3-2 away victory. Alessandra will be hoping to continue his goal streak against Northampton after scoring three in his last six this season. 

3) North by South West

Argyle's past five home encounters against the Cobblers have resulted in four wins and a draw, meaning the last time Northampton travelled to Home Park and tasted success was the best part of 17 years ago. 

That victory was in 1998, as Ian Atkins' Northampton were inspired by a Chris Freestone hat-trick, beating Argyle 3-1. Mark Saunders scored Argyle's only goal, in a team that was managed by Mick Jones and included current first-team coach Paul Wotton. 

You would have to go back to Saturday, October 5, 2002 to find the last time the Cobblers took a point away against Argyle, playing out a 0-0 draw. It is to be seen whether Home Park will remain an unhappy hunting ground for the East Midlands club.