Lowe warns of dangers posed by Wimbledon
PLYMOUTH Argyle will be facing ‘a wounded animal’ when they play AFC Wimbledon at Home Park on Good Friday, according to Ryan Lowe.
Wimbledon are fighting against relegation from League One after a difficult campaign.
However, their chances of staying up were boosted massively by a vital 1-0 win against Northampton Town at Plough Lane last Saturday.
It moved Wimbledon up to 21st, the first of the four relegation places, behind Northampton only on goal difference.
The Dons have also played two games fewer than Northampton, who had a stoppage time penalty saved by ‘keeper Nik Tzanev after Joe Pigott had put the south London hosts ahead in the 88th minute.
Lowe, whose Argyle side are 16th, said: “We can’t take them for granted because they are a wounded animal.
“They are fighting for their status in the league and we have got to respect that.”
Lowe added: “They have just come off the back of a 1-0 win, the ‘keeper saved a penalty in the last minute.
“They will be buzzing. We have got to make sure that we worry about what we do first and foremost, but we respect Wimbledon for what they are doing.
“We will put the game plan together for the lads to take it to fruition.”
Pigott is Wimbledon’s 14-goal top scorer in League One, with two of his tally coming in the 4-4 draw with Argyle on the second Saturday of the season in September.
That eventful match was played at QPR’s Loftus Road Stadium, before Wimbledon completed their return to Plough Lane a couple of months later.
Much has changed since then, including Wimbledon swapping Glyn Hodges as their manager with Mark Robinson at the end of January. So Lowe does not believe the 4-4 draw between the sides will have any bearing on the rematch at Home Park.
Lowe said: “It was obviously a good game, it was one of our first encounters in League One, and being down and getting back up.
“They scored a few good goals, so did we, but we will look more at recent games rather than the past.”
Only five points cover the bottom six sides in League One, and it is also tight at the top where Hull City, Sunderland and Peterborough United are leading the race for automatic promotion.
So it does not matter the opposition, the division is proving to be very competitive across the board.
Lowe said: “Why is that? Is it down to lack of fans? We don’t know, but it is a crazy league.
“At the top end of the table, there are not many points between so many teams, and it’s the same down the bottom.
“Anyone can beat anyone on their day. It’s about consistency - Sunderland are the most consistent team in the league at the moment and have found themselves with a chance of automatic promotion.
“If you go on one of those runs you can find yourself in any position really because the league is that tight.”
Argyle’s other game over the Easter bank holiday weekend will see them travel to Shrewsbury Town on Monday (3pm).
Meanwhile, Lowe has revealed he is likely to leave it until late April before holding talks with Plymouth Argyle players who are out of contract in the summer.
Several players are set to be out of contract, however, and are thought to include Will Aimson, Joe Edwards and Danny Mayor, who all signed for Argyle in the summer of 2019 following the appointment of Lowe as manager.
Lowe stated that no talks had taken place with any players yet about new deals and explained why.
“We have got a season to finish,” said the Pilgrims’ boss. “Eventually we will, but not any time soon.
“I have always said whoever does well by me and the football club I do well by them.
“That’s always the case with not just Plymouth Argyle but any football club. So in terms of sitting down with contract offers it’s not the time yet.
“We have still got a few games to go before we start doing that. The lads know where they are, they are good professionals.
“One or two might have it in the back of their head, thinking their contract is up and is it going to be renewed? Well, we will have to wait and see.
“It all depends on budgets and what we have got to work with for next season.”
He continued: “Will one or two want a different challenge away from Home Park? Possibly.
“Will one or two reject contracts? Maybe. Will one or two sign contracts? Hopefully.
“We are not even looking down that route yet. Probably the last week in April maybe, I will sit down with the players and see where we go from there.
“We have got a little challenge on our hands to collect our target of points. Once we achieve that then I will gladly sit down with any of them.”