Pilgrims primed for a decisive December

PLYMOUTH Argyle are sure to already be casting a close eye on potential new recruits for when the January transfer window opens.

There is no doubt that the injuryhit Pilgrims need to strengthen their squad for the second half of the campaign to sustain their League One promotion push.

However, of more immediate concern are five games during December, starting off with the visit of Port Vale to Home Park on Friday night.

Fifteen points are up for grabs for the table-topping Pilgrims and with second-placed Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday in third close on their heels the last month of 2022 promises to be a vital one.

A strong December would only make Argyle more of an attractive proposition to players who they are targeting to bring to Home Park.

Only two of the Pilgrims’ opponents in December are in the top half of the table, and they are 10thplaced Port Vale and Wycombe Wanderers in 12th.

The other three are all in the bottom seven - Cambridge United in 20th, Morecambe in 23rd and Cheltenham Town in 18th - so, on paper at least, that looks like a good run of games for Steven Schumacher’s side.

But, and it is a big but, Argyle should know by now that just because a team is not in the top six or right in the table does not mean they will be easy to beat, far from it.

They only have to look to the recent evidence of their away draws against Lincoln City (1-1) and Burton Albion (2-2).

Both of those sides raised their performance levels because the leaders were in opposition and made life difficult for the Pilgrims.

Argyle can expect more of the same from the teams they play against during December and must be ready to deal with that.

Any side with pretensions of securing automatic promotion have to be able to maintain a consistent level of performance, and that has been one of the keys to the Pilgrims’ success this term.

When they play Cheltenham at Whaddon Road on Boxing Day it will be their 23rd league game of the campaign - the midway point.

Argyle will finish 2022 against Gareth Ainsworth’s Wycombe on December 29 before beginning the new year by hosting MK Dons on January 1.

From then on, a lot of the talk will be about the transfer window and player comings and goings at Argyle. It promises to be an important time for Argyle, but December cannot be overlooked in any way.

Vital points are at stake and a set of positive results in December will put the Pilgrims in a strong position to push forward from.