And then there were ten.
Argyle have ten games remaining in their season, 30 Sky Bet League One points to play for, as the Greens continue their unlikely quest to reach the end-of-season play-offs.
Those ten games will include plenty of tough tasks. Down the line, there is a trip to Barnsley, not out of it with games in hand, and a home Devon Derby to take in, but the next five games are the eyecatchers.
Between now and Good Friday, over the next three weeks, Argyle play five of the nine teams above them in the league table. A trip to Bradford City comes among three home games, taking on Stevenage and Huddersfield Town next week, and Bolton Wanderers on Easter weekend.
First, though, the Pilgrims are off to Reading. This Saturday, Leam Richardson’s Royals will play host to Argyle, a side two points and three places below Reading in the table, and almost 3,000 of the Green Army are slated to be in attendance.
Reading were 19th when Richardson took over in October, and have won more than half of their games since. They lost 1-0 at Mansfield Town on Tuesday, but that ended an unbeaten run of six. In addition, Reading have lost just three times in their 18 home league games, and two of those were the first two home games of the season.
Argyle met Reading on Boxing Day at Home Park, the visitors leaving with a 4-1 win, with Argyle having lost Joe Ralls to a red card, early in the game.
“[Reading are] one of the form teams,” Argyle Head Coach Tom Cleverley said to Argyle TV. “I think they're fourth in the league table since Liam's gone in there. He's had a good impact. I think his teams look very well organised, with similar principles to us in terms in how they play the game.
“We were anticipating a real good game of football here on Boxing Day. Unfortunately, the red card after 10 minutes took that away from us to show the best version of ourselves. I'm anticipating another strong game of football on Saturday. Two good teams, two teams with similar ambitions now, and it's all to play for.
“It’s two teams that are in decent enough form. Two teams that are looking upwards now instead of what's behind. And when you add to that the 3,000 travelling supporters, it feels like there's a little bit of added excitement around this game. I wouldn't say pressure, because the feeling around the squad is that we're excited to approach these type of games now.
“We've got a big week, full of games like this, with the teams just above us, and we're looking forward to each challenge.
“We appreciate each and every away spectator, whether it be 500 at Wigan on a Tuesday night, Leyton Orient, Blackpool and all the different places we've been in the last six away games in four weeks. It’s challenging for the players, even more challenging to follow it.
“As a player, staff member, when you hear 3,000 are going to be there, then you feel like we're a big club, not only at this level, but nationally. There's a real excitement around the squad around Saturday.
“I put the responsibility on us to be the catalyst of atmospheres, on being entertaining to watch, and ultimately being really connected to our fan base, which we've managed to do. That doesn't give us the right to turn up there Saturday and think that it's going to be another good day. We have to work for that right. It's going to be a very challenging game. I think nine out the last 12, we've sent our really committed, dedicated fan base home happy.”
