Western Morning News (Saturday)
Lowe wants to put on a performance at home
18th-placed Pilgrims are playing at Home Park for the final time this season
PLYMOUTH Argyle’s League One game against Sunderland today will, hopefully, be the last time they play behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
It is the Pilgrims’ final fixture at the Theatre of Greens of what can only be described as a surreal and unprecedented season.
While the Green Army have watched via live streaming, instead of from the stands, Argyle have put together a home record of 11 wins, four draws and seven defeats.
Argyle have lost heavily on their last two games at the Theatre of Greens - first to Hull City (3-0) and then to Charlton Athletic (6-0).
Sunderland are fourth in League One and have dropped out of contention for automatic promotion after going seven games without a win.
Managed by former Bristol City boss Lee Johnson, the Black Cats should make the play-offs but that is not mathematically certain yet.
Argyle beat Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light in January, securing the first of only three away league wins this term, with goals from Liverpool loan signing Adam Lewis and skipper Joe Edwards.
The Pilgrims now have the chance of completing the double over Sunderland this season for the first time since 1992, when they beat the Wearsiders 1-0 both at home and away.
Argyle manager Ryan Lowe said: “It’s not about that for us. What we want to do is put on a performance.
“I thought the performance against Oxford (the 3-1 away defeat last Saturday) was okay in some departments, and it was a lot better than the one before (against Charlton).
“We have just got to keep improving the group. We know where we are at, we know what we have got.
“What I’m challenging the group with now is to go and finish on a high. You have got two games to go and play.
“I don’t think Sunderland have won in seven, or whatever it is, but they are a fantastic club and have got some fantastic players so we have still got to be mindful of that.
“Everyone goes on a bad run of form, as I well know,” added Lowe, whose side have lost nine of their last 13 games. “We are at home and we want to put on a performance.”
Lowe could give first team experience to some of Argyle’s young prospects, such as 18-year-old Ollie Tomlinson, who has yet to make his debut but has been an unused substitute for recent matches.
But that will be off the bench and not in the starting line-up, given the strength of opposition that Sunderland will provide.
Lowe said: “You can’t just throw youngsters into a cage with wounded animals, it’s not going to happen. I have got a duty of care to those players.
“If I feel the game is going the right way, and I feel it’s time to maybe give one or two of them a little opportunity, then yeah I will do it, but I won’t just do it for the sake of it.”
Argyle are set to be without defenders Will Aimson (ankle) and Sam Woods (hamstring) against Sunderland, as well as midfielder Conor Grant (groin).
So it is likely to be a makeshift defence for the Pilgrims, with 21-year-old Ryan Law getting another chance to prove his worth to Lowe after breaking into the first team for the last couple of matches.