The Local Lowdown: Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth were involved in an amazing League One title race last season, being crowned champions with 101 points. What were the key factors in Argyle holding off Ipswich (98 points) and Sheffield Wednesday (96 points) to win the league?

I think lots of people outside the club expected Argyle to fall away under the intense pressure they were put under by two perceived much bigger clubs, but Steven Schumacher and his squad used that as added motivation to prove people wrong. They were also able to turn Home Park into a fortress with 20 wins from their 23 home league games, which is an outstanding record at any level of football.

A lot of players have come and gone over the summer. How much has the team changed since last season, and how does the current squad compare to the title winners?

Steven Schumacher has made nine summer signings, but three of them were key members of the League One title-winning squad as loan players. Morgan Whittaker was outstanding until he was recalled by Swansea City in early January while Finn Azaz and Bali Mumba spent the whole season at Home Park and also provided lots of goals and assists. Azaz has returned on another season-long loan from Aston Villa, but Whittaker and Mumba joined for joint club record transfer fees of £1million from Swansea and Norwich City respectively. Argyle are again using the loan market to add more young talent to their ranks, with Azaz, Luke Cundle (Wolves), Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Aston Villa) and Lewis Warrington (Everton) all brought in from Premier League clubs. 

Bali Mumba, last season's League One Young Player of the Season, was an eye-catching permanent signing from Norwich having been on loan at Home Park last term

It’s been a very positive start to life in the Championship. How has the team performed in the first two games, and what are the club’s expectations for the season?

I think all Argyle fans would have taken four points from the first two games if you had offered it to them before the season kicked off. It has got them off and running and continued the momentum from last term. They beat Huddersfield Town 3-1 at Home Park on opening day, but it was one of those games where it could have easily gone the other way. However, Mumba scored an outstanding solo goal to put them 2-1 up before Whittaker set up Ryan Hardie for a third goal soon afterwards. Argyle then had a hard-fought 0-0 draw away to Watford, who put them under a lot of pressure, but they stayed strong defensively, which they will have to do throughout the season. As for their expectations, Steven Schumacher has repeatedly said they just want to do as well as they possibly can. In other words, consolidating their position in the Championship.

You mentioned Argyle’s remarkable home record last season, which continued against Huddersfield. What sort of test should Saints expect, and how is the atmosphere at Home Park?

Clearly, Southampton have a talented squad and will be confident of going anywhere in the Championship and picking up points, but Argyle will look to play on the front foot and take the game to them. Only Port Vale and Lincoln City have won a league game at Home Park since July 2022 so Steven Schumacher has been able to instil a real strong sense of belief among his players whenever they play in front of their own fans. A sell-out 16,500 crowd will make for a great atmosphere.

A 16-year-old Jack Stephens, already playing in Plymouth's first team, celebrates with former Saint Bradley Wright-Phillips in 2010

It will be a big day for Cornishman Jack Stephens, a former Argyle player and Saints’ new captain. How is he remembered by the home fans?

Jack made six first team appearances for Argyle as a 16-year-old back in 2010/11 at a time when the club were going through a very difficult time financially, and when he joined Southampton in April 2011 they were in administration. He was clearly a promising player and there was obvious disappointment among the fans that he was lured away before he really made his mark at Home Park. I am sure he will have a lot of support from his hometown of Torpoint on Saturday.

How do you see the game going on Saturday?

It's another good test for Argyle in trying to find their feet in the Championship. They have been used to winning at Home Park over the past year or so, but they are not going to have it all their own way when Southampton come to the Theatre of Greens. They will be the underdogs, but they like it that way.