Argyle’s game at Luton Town on Tuesday night, in the Vertu Trophy, comes at the point where you start daring to dream.
It is a quarter-final game. It is not even a ‘last eight’ game, as the other quarters have been played, and the semi-final line-up just awaiting this result before being completed.
The winners between Argyle and the Hatters know that they will be at home to Northampton in the semi-final. Win that, and it’s the final – it’s Wembley.
It will not be straightforward, though. Admittedly, the Greens have beaten Luton twice in league action this season, but both were tight games, and the Hatters have a strong home record. They have not lost in the league at home since October, and their only defeat in all competitions was at home to Swindon Town, in the Vertu Trophy – a loss which was overturned, with Swindon cited for fielding an ineligible player.
“This is a huge game for us, a huge game for the football club and we are very motivated,” Greens Head Coach Tom Cleverley told Argyle TV. “We've gone strong in this competition from day dot. The reasons earlier in the competition were to get some rhythm, to get some confidence and the importance behind that. I felt like that worked, but now it is all about winning and that is step by step.
“Can we advance to the next stage? There's huge importance internally and externally to do that.
“Cup competitions are special. There's been league titles, and play-off victories, but the cup competitions are unique in that sense. There's something special; it's all on the line every game, every time you step over that line, it's all on the line. It's win or you exit the competition.
“I think the history behind the club not winning a national cup, and the motivation to be the first group to do that, is very motivating. - but one step at a time.
“We've got a very tough opponent, who are a strong side at home, and we know the challenges that [Tuesday] will bring.
“[Luton are] a highly technical team, [with an] experienced calibre of player. Some of these guys were playing Premier League football two years ago. They like to play through the lines, and in January they brought in some real penetration with Devante Cole coming in, and [Ali] Al-Hamadi's back from injury.
“These are guys that were on everyone's radar at Championship level last season. It's a tough test, but we're high in confidence. We're getting fitter and fitter as the season goes on and we're scoring a lot of goals. We know what we've got to do to give ourselves the best chance - and that'll be the focus.”
