eSports Preview: It's Personal

After a disappointing return from their Virtual Pro Gaming (VPG) fixtures on Thursday, Argyle eSports manager Ben Taylor is hopeful that the Greens can bounce back with two wins on Monday night.

The Pilgrims fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to league leaders Oxford United in the VPG English Premier division, ending their unbeaten record.

Taylor said: “On another day, we would have probably beaten them. We conceded a soft goal, and then couldn’t quite get back in the game.”

On Monday, they face off against Lincoln City, looking to make it three wins from their opening four fixtures.

“Tonight’s match is quite personal, to be honest,” said Taylor. “Lincoln’s manager was the first to give me and a few of my team a chance in Pro Clubs. I feel we have got some pride at stake, and a bit of a point to prove.”

“We’ve known each other for three years now. We’re excited to play them, and hopefully show them how good we are.”

After their English Premier clash with the Imps, Argyle turn their attentions to a fixture against Green Line in VPG League One South, where their promotion hopes hang by a thread following a crucial defeat to third-placed Bestou WS on Thursday.

“The Oxford defeat set us up for a poor showing against Bestou, where we lost our heads.”

Thursday night’s fixtures were rounded off with a comfortable win over Intique eSports. However, with ten games left in the League One South season, Argyle are now 11 points adrift of the top three. Despite being bullish about the Greens’ promotion prospects all season, Taylor admits it is now a very tough ask.

He said: “I’m not so sure, now. We have to keep going and finish as high as possible. It was the start of the season that cost us – and we haven’t quite been able to catch up, even though we have improved and climbed massively since the start of the season.”

“It’s up to us to win our remaining games and try to finish as high as we can. We have a good group and we need to look to progress as far as we can.”

Argyle eSports face Lincoln City in the English Premier division at 8pm BST, before facing League One South strugglers Green Line at 9.15pm BST. Both fixtures will be available to stream live through our Facebook and Twitch channels.