please log in to view this image PLYMOUTH ARGYLE v WATFORD please log in to view this image Home Park Monday 1st January 2024 Kick Off : 1500 GMT please log in to view this image If you like a long journey on New Year's Day, then you are in luck with a trip to the west country. 220 miles on the fastest road will take around four hours from Watford, and it becomes a long day out if things do not go well. Plymouth are believed to be working towards having a new manager in place for the FA Cup third-round contest with Sutton United on January 6, so this could be interim head coach Neil Dewsnip's last game at the helm. The Pilgrims, who are the reigning League One champions, have played three times since Schumacher's departure, drawing with both Birmingham City and Cardiff City before suffering a 2-1 defeat at Southampton on Friday, with the result leaving them in 18th position in the Championship. According to the fans, the refereeing in their last game against Southampton was not of an acceptable standard, so we have a common complaint. Plymouth have won seven, drawn seven and lost 11 of their 25 Championship matches this season to collect 28 points, which has left them seven points clear of the relegation zone heading into the next set of fixtures. Watford, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Stoke on Friday; Jake Livermore put the Hornets ahead in the 15th minute, before Ryan Mmaee levelled the scores in the 34th minute. The Hornets have picked up 15 points from their 11 away league matches this season courtesy of a record of four wins, three draws and four defeats. Ismael's team will be taking on a Plymouth side with the sixth-best home record in the division this term, though, with the Pilgrims winning seven, drawing two and losing three of their 12 games in front of their own fans, with all of their league victories this term coming on home soil. Team News The Hornets will be unable to call upon Bayo due to the red card that he was handed in the early stages of the second half against Stoke. Mileta Rajovic should therefore be introduced up front, with the 24-year-old bidding to add to the eight Championship goals that he has already managed this season. Apart from this, who knows who will still be fit? Our Officials Bobby Madley has been named as the referee for the 3pm kick-off at Home Park. please log in to view this image The West Yorkshire official, who has yet to take charge of a Hornets fixture this season, has been in the middle for 13 league and cup games so far in 2023/24, issuing 67 yellows and four reds. Craig Taylor and Blake Antrobus are scheduled to be the assistant referees. Happy New Year to fans around the world. May 2024 be a good year for you.
Rhys Healey will travel with the squad to Plymouth after recovering from a minor muscle strain picked up in training. Jamal Lewis and Jeremy Ngakia remain absent through injury, with a call to be made on Ken Sema after the Sweden international missed the Potters clash. Head Coach Valérien Ismaël confirmed post-match that Edo Kayembe will be part of the travelling squad after conversations with DR Congo’s federation, with the midfielder jetting off to the African Cup of Nations afterwards.
Events in Plymouth tonight have been cancelled due to gales and heavy rain. Travel is expected to be difficult tomorrow, with bus and train travel suffering.
I'm watching on Watford's iFollow channel - which sadly is using Plymouth TV's broadcast. Hope that changes before kick off ..
