Competition Time

JIMMY Spencer is keen that Argyle do not change their successful recent approach when facing Mansfield in the Emirates FA Cup this Saturday.

The Pilgrims are on a 13-game unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two, and have already beaten Mansfield at Home Park this season. 

Argyle striker Jimmy says that the squad are not dropping their guard because they are facing a challenge from a different competition, and eyes Mansfield as tough opposition, despite the victory the Pilgrims hold over them. 

“It’s just another game to us,” said Jimmy. “We want to keep this run going and get through to the next round. Every game’s important. It doesn’t matter if it is a friendly, a league game, a cup game. We just want to win games. It keeps the momentum going for us.  

“It will be a tough game at Mansfield. They are a very physical side. I think it’ll be a game very similar to Saturday’s against Colchester. They’ll make it hard for us to do our stuff. If we go there and do what we do, play our stuff, we’ll come away with a win.

“Teams coming up against us will try and stop us. Mansfield have always been physical over the years that I’ve played them.”

While no game, least of all a tricky trip to the One Call Stadium, can be viewed as a gimme, all teams entering the FA Cup, at any stage, dream of a reaching at least the third round stage, and procuring a tie against one of the country’s bigger teams. 

Whilst a Cheltenham player, Spencer got a chance to play in one of England’s most famous stadia, and would not mind the chance to do something similar with Argyle. 

“I played at White Hart Lane against Tottenham, a few years back when I was at Cheltenham,” said Jimmy. “I think that is the furthest I’ve been in the FA Cup. It was the third round. 

“We were having a good season there too, similar to what we’re doing here now. If we can replicate that, it would be good.”