PREVIEW | Rovers vs Plymouth Argyle

5 March 2021

Rovers are looking to make it back-to-back home victories when they take on Plymouth Argyle at the Keepmoat Stadium this weekend.

Andy Butler secured his first win as Rovers boss in midweek with a 2-1 win over Portsmouth, thanks to goals from Reece James and Fejiri Okenabirhie.

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Plymouth’s recent form

Plymouth have won three of their past six league games stretching back to a 1-0 win at Accrington Stanley on February 9. They earned another three points four days later with another slender victory over Fleetwood Town.

A goalless draw at Rochdale was followed up by a home defeat to Peterborough United, before a brilliant 4-3 victory over promotion chasing Lincoln City last weekend. They were beaten 2-0 at Northampton Town in their last outing.

Club News

Plymouth Argyle programme now available

6 March 2021

The man in charge

Ryan Lowe was named as Plymouth manager in June 2019 and guided the club to promotion back to the third tier in his first season in charge. Since his appointment, Lowe has overseen 86 Argyle fixtures, winning 40, drawing 19 and losing 27, giving him an overall win percentage of 46.5%.

Ones to watch

Joe Edwards

A product of the Bristol City academy, the 30-year-old has a wealth of EFL experience having played for Yeovil Town, Colchester United and Walsall before his move to Plymouth.

He arrived at Home Park in the summer of 2019 and was influential in helping the club bounce back to Sky Bet League One at the first attempt. He has carried that form on so far this season, and has added goals to his game as well – hitting the back of the net seven times already.

Danny Mayor

After coming through the ranks at Preston North End, Mayor earned a move to Sheffield Wednesday in 2012, but struggled to pin down a regular place in the team at Hillsborough. He spent time on loan at Bury before a permanent move to Gigg Lane in 2014.

He spent five years with the Shakers and played more than 150 appearances for the club, before departing for Plymouth after winning promotion in the 2018/19 campaign. He has become a key member of the squad under Ryan Lowe since his arrival.

Luke Jephcott

The Welsh striker made his professional debut for Plymouth in the EFL back in 2018/19 but it was last season when he started to show his goalscoring prowess at the club. He scored seven goals in just 14 appearances as the club won promotion from Sky Bet League Two.

He has carried on that form this time around, scoring 18 goals in all competitions and becoming one of the most prolific strikers in the division.

Last time out

Goals from Luke Jephcott and Joe Edwards saw Plymouth come out on top when the two sides last met at Home Park back in October. Fejiri Okenabirhie scored what turned out to be a consolation goal for Rovers on the night.

More ahead of this match

Butler pleased with players' enthusiasm

Wright: Seamless transition for Butler

Meet the officials

Watch Rovers vs Plymouth on iFollow

Watch pre-match interviews

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Match Previews

Match Reports

REPORT | Rovers 2 Plymouth Argyle 1

6 March 2021

Goals from Tom Anderson and Omar Bogle secured victory against a dangerous Plymouth Argyle side.

Andy Butler made one change to the side that beat Portsmouth midweek with the injured Jon Taylor being replaced by Taylor Richards.

Rovers were in complete control of the game from the first whistle, and it was reflected with Butler’s men taking the lead on the seventh minute.

Richards had won Rovers a corner after Mike Cooper had to pull off a stretching save to deny his effort. The resulting corner was whipped to the back post by James Coppinger and headed in by captain Tom Anderson.

Richards was hungry for his goal pulling off another challenging shot on goal which forced Cooper all the way down to his bottom right corner.

Later Josh Sims would come agonisingly close as his effort spun across the grass and just past Cooper’s post.

On the 27^th minute Brad Halliday almost scored a sensational goal after being perfectly teed-up by Coppinger but the right back had to watch his great effort go inches wide of the post.

With just under 15 minutes left of the first-half the visitors gained more impetus in the game but the Rovers defence were unfazed with Anderson perfectly leading the backline.

Rovers went into the break with a one goal lead and the only time Butler’s men came under pressure in the first half was through corners or free kicks which were defended confidently by the men in red and white.

For the second half Butler withdrew John Bostock who was booked in the first half with Celtic loanee Scott Robertson.

Within two minutes of the second half starting Omar Bogle headed past Cooper to get his first goal from open play for the club.

Despite going 2-0 down Plymouth looked more motivated than they had the entire game. They responded instantly by cutting Rovers’ lead after ex Rovers man Niall Ennis beat Louis Jones.

The Pilgrims almost equalised through their captain Joe Edwards, but the midfielders headed effort was off target.

Conor Grant forced a great save out of Jones, but the young goalkeeper could only par it back out. Rovers had to clear and settle for a corner.

Bogle almost got his second of the game after a great attacking move by Rovers was finished with the front man shooting wide of the mark.

Substitute Madger Gomes had a chance to put the game to rest after beating the offside trap but his effort was blocked by a determined Will Aimson who astonishingly got back in front of the Spainard.

Rovers managed to see game out and hold onto the three points despite Plymouth throwing everything they had at trying to get something out of the game.