The Game
Argyle v Burton Albion. Sunday, 4 January. 3pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Burton Albion are 20th in the division, with 27 points. They are one place ahead of Argyle, who have the same points, though the Brewers have played a game fewer.
Burton began with a 2-1 win over Mansfield Town, but failed to win any of their next seven, getting just two points in that time, and at one point going four games without a goal. The last game of that run was against Argyle, who won 4-0 at the Pirelli Stadium.
Albion were seemingly stung into life by that defeat, though, as they went to Cardiff in the following midweek, and won 1-0. In fact, that was the start of a run of eight games in which they won five and lost just once, raising their place in the table.
November ended with another 4-0 home defeat, this time against Leyton Orient, and then they lost at Wigan Athletic. Two draws – against Wycombe and Stevenage, two sides Argyle have also recently drawn with – followed, before a Boxing Day 5-1 home victory over Northampton Town.
Since then, Burton have lost 2-0 twice; once at home to Wigan, and then on the road at Reading.
The Gaffer
54-year-old head coach Gary Bowyer had a short playing career before an enforced retirement at 25 due to an injury. The former full-back had spells at Hereford United, Nottingham Forest, and Rotherham United before he hung up his boots in 1997. Upon retiring, Bowyer became a part-time coach at Ilkeston before receiving a permanent role as under-17s coach at Derby County.
After six years, Bowyer made the switch to Blackburn Rovers, where he became under-18s coach. Further spells with Rovers came as reserve team manager and caretaker manager before being named first-team manager in 2013. After two seasons, he was sacked and took a year out before arriving at Blackpool.
In his three years at Bloomfield Road, Bowyer achieved promotion with the Seasiders. Next came an unsuccessful stint at Bradford City, which lasted just under a year. Upon being sacked, the former defender headed back to Derby to work in their academy before taking the Salford City job in 2021.
That lasted two years and ended in a near promotion to League One. Bowyer headed to Scotland for his next job, winning the Scottish Championship with Dundee before departing at the end of the season. After another spell out of the game, Bowyer joined Burton Albion midway through last season.
The Squad
Jake Beesley (below) is the only Burton player to have started every league game this season, scoring seven goals in the process. The 29-year-old signed in the summer, having left Blackpool. He has previously played for Chesterfield, Salford City, Solihull Moors and Rochdale.
Kyran Lofthouse is just one behind Beesley in the appearances stakes this season, splitting his 22 starts between playing at right-back and central midfield. Lofthouse, 25, began his career at Oxford United and, after a loan at Woking, signed for them permanently. He then moved to Barnsley, from whom he had loans at Gateshead, Milton Keynes Dons and then Burton, last season. He signed for Albion on a free in the summer.
The versatile Jack Armer has started 19 games, coming on as a substitute in three more. Most have been at left-back, but he has also played at centre-back and on the left of midfield. Born in Preston, and capped at Scotland youth level, he began his career with Preston North End, but failed to break through. He moved to Carlisle United, and played 172 times for the Cumbrians, before heading to Burton prior to last season.
Previous Meetings
Argyle’s game against Burton earlier this season ended in a 4-0 victory for the Greens. Lorent Tolaj opened the scoring, with Owen Oseni making it 2-0 before half-time. Tolaj added another ten minutes into the second half, with Bim Pepple making it four late on.
Burton’s last visit to Home Park was in very happy circumstance for the Greens. In April 2023, Niall Ennis scored the game’s only goal to give Argyle a victory that ensured promotion to the Sky Bet Championship.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin the Pre-Match Show, from 2.30pm, with Erin Black joined by Marc Edworthy, before commentary of the game comes from Charlie Price and Brian McGlinchey.
Match passes to watch this game are available overseas. CLICK HERE for more information.
