Fond memories go out of the window for Lowe

Argyle boss retains a soft spot for Owls, but wants to beat them at Home Park today

RYAN Lowe has fond memories of his one season as a promotion-winning player at Sheffield Wednesday, but all of his focus now is on Plymouth Argyle beating the South Yorkshire side today.

Home Park will be filled with fans for the League One fixture, with Darren Moore’s Owls cheered on by 2,000 travelling supporters, so it all bodes well for an exciting occasion.

Lowe was aged 32 when he signed for Wednesday from Bury for an undisclosed six-figure sum in August 2011. He went on to make a total of 14 starts and six substitute appearances, and scored nine goals, as the Owls were promoted from League One as runners-up to Charlton Athletic.

In doing so, they famously pipped city rivals Sheffield United to the second automatic promotion place, with Lowe leaving Hillsborough for MK Dons later that summer.

Lowe said: “When you get promoted with any team you always find a special place in your heart for those type of clubs.

“Sheffield Wednesday is no different to Shrewsbury, Bury and the other teams I have been promoted with. Yeah, you want to keep that bond but, ultimately, it’s about me and Plymouth Argyle and we are here to hopefully put on a show and take some points because we feel are capable of doing that.

“I want Sheffield Wednesday to do well, but I also want Plymouth Argyle to do even better.”

Argyle will be playing their first league game in a fortnight after the international break for 2022 World Cup qualifiers led to their scheduled away game against Portsmouth being postponed.

Lowe took the opportunity to give his players some time off to spend with family and friends after what had been a very hectic start to the season.

“It was certainly needed for the players, the seven games in 22 days was tough for them,” said the Pilgrims’ boss.

“With the squad being a little bit depleted it was certainly needed. The lads have been back in since Monday, refreshed, and we are raring to go.

“When you are hosting a big club like Sheffield Wednesday and a big fanbase - along with ours - it bodes well. The lads are excited, they have been talking about it all week but actions speak louder than words for me.

“I know they (Wednesday) have sold loads of tickets in their numbers, and we will be loud and proud as well. These are the games you want, when you are looking at the fixtures coming out throughout the season.

“These are the type of games you want to be playing in. The lads are excited, I’m excited, my coaching staff is excited.”

The visit of Wednesday will see the largest crowd at Home Park since more than 15,000 fans packed in for the top-of-the-table League Two clash against Swindon Town on January 1, 2020.

Lowe said: “It’s two big clubs locking horns, two big fanbases locking horns and that’s a buzz for me, it’s a buzz for the players.

“It’s a buzz for everyone associated with the football club. Yeah, Sheffield Wednesday do travel in their numbers, they have a fantastic support home and away, but so do we.

“It’s going to be one of those

exciting afternoons where I think, and I hope, both sets of fans are singing along and cheering their teams on.

“These are Championship games, these are Championship clubs locking horns. I know we are not there at the moment, but for me these are two big clubs locking horns to get three points. It’s hopefully going to be an exciting afternoon.”

Meanwhile, Lowe has successfully added a new striker to his squad with the signing of Kieran Agard on a short-term contract until January.

The 31-year-old had been without a club since he was released by League One rivals MK Dons at the end of last season.

Lowe tried hard to add to his attacking options before the summer transfer window shut on August 31 but was unable to do so, despite being strongly linked with Portsmouth’s Ellis Harrison.

Now, after exploring the free agent market since then, the Pilgrims’ boss has brought in Agard, who is thought to be travelling to Plymouth today.

Agard spent five seasons at MK Dons and scored 50 goals in a total of 123 starts and 43 substitute appearances.

However, he played only once last term, netting twice in a 6-0 EFL Trophy home win against Norwich City Under-21s in December 2020.