Plymouth Argyle play host to Cheltenham Town in the EFL Cup first round on Wednesday evening looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat at the weekend.
In sharp contrast to their host's thrashing in the Championship, Cheltenham marked their return to League Two with a thrilling win.
Match preview
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After a productive pre-season campaign, Wayne Rooney would have had high hopes for Plymouth's opening Championship fixture of the season against Sheffield Wednesday.
However, despite holding out for the first half-hour at Hillsborough, the Pilgrims ultimately fell to a 4-0 defeat against one of their 2023-24 relegation rivals.
Although far more is expected from Wednesday during the current campaign, Rooney will be concerned by the manner of the setback in Yorkshire.
On a positive note, Plymouth get to play their next two matches at Home Park, a ground where they have recorded two wins and a draw in their last three competitive outings.
With regards to this competition, you have to go back to the 2007-08 campaign for the last time that Plymouth reached the third round, something which Rooney will hope to change over the coming weeks.
Opponents Cheltenham have been eliminated at the first hurdle in each of the last two seasons, although they reach the fourth round as recently as 2020-21.
The focus of new boss Michael Flynn will be earning the club an immediate return to the third tier of English football after their relegation last season.
A 3-2 victory over one of his former clubs Newport County means that it is so far so good on that front, Cheltenham scoring a 90th-minute winner after the visitors had fought back from two goals adrift.
Cheltenham make the long trip to Grimsby Town at the weekend for a game which will take priority over this one, yet they will still want to end a five-game losing streak against Plymouth in all competitions.
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Team News
With this the second game of three in six days, Rooney will naturally tinker with his Plymouth XI.
Many of the players who featured among the substitutes on Sunday should feature, with defender Kornel Szucs in line to make his debut after his summer arrival.
Regulars from last season such as Julio Pleguezuelo, Joe Edwards and Ryan Hardie are also expected to be named in the starting lineup.
Although Flynn will also make alterations to his Cheltenham side, it may not be to the same extent as Rooney.
Two-goal hero Joel Colwill could be rested, allowing Ethon Archer to deputise, while Tom Pett and Matty Taylor seem likely to feature in midfield and attack respectively.
Arkell Jude-Boyd may get a run out at right wing-back in order to hand a rest to Lewis Payne.
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Mumba, Pleguezuelo, Szucs, Ogbeta; Randell, Wright; Houghton, Bundu, Issaka; Hardie
Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Evans; Laing, Bennett, Bakare; Jude-Boyd, Kinsella, Pett, Haynes; Archer; Miller, Taylor
We say: Plymouth Argyle 3-2 Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham will feel that Plymouth's new-look side under Rooney are there for the taking and could push them close on Wednesday. However, we feel the home side will do just enough to edge this contest, perhaps in the closing stages.
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Darren Plant
