Third Round Motivation
IT is just a couple of years since Argyle toiled to victory in the mud of Newport to earn an incredible trip to Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup and that memorable 0-0 draw at Anfield.
The replay back at Home Park ended in a 1-0 defeat but one of the great occasions at the Theatre of Greens, and it is the chance to experience something similar that will be the major motivation for the Pilgrims when Oxford United visit Home Park tomorrow in the FA Cup second round.
It is a game both sides will fancy as being winnable and Argyle know they will need to perform better than the recent 2-0 defeat at Oxford in the league, on a day when former Pilgrims Jamie Mackie and Curtis Nelson both scored for the U’s.
“You haven’t got to go too far back in the memory banks for the Liverpool game and that is motivation enough,” said Argyle assistant boss Paul Wotton.
“It is a home game and hopefully we can progress to one of the big teams in the next round, but we’re under no illusions that it will be a tough game on Saturday.
“In rounds one or two, playing against opposition of your level or below, they are all winnable games and I’m sure Oxford will be thinking the same thing. There are tons of benefits from getting through and we will be desperate to do that.
“They [Oxford] have been on a decent run of late and they had a good win on Tuesday night [beating Rochdale 4-2]. They play good football, they’ve got an attacking threat.
“Obviously, Jamie Mackie, I know very well and know what he will bring. They’ve got Curtis Nelson at the back, so two players Plymouth Argyle fans will know. They’ve got good footballers and we have a good idea of the shape they will play.
“Jamie is a winner and has always kept himself very fit. He works very hard in training and, when you do that, there is no coincidence when you look at his career.”