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Plymouth Argyle
AlvechurchPlymouth Argyle have already been burned once in the FA Cup first round. Tom Cleverley will not want a repeat of last season’s early exit, particularly at Home Park against opposition from four tiers below. This is exactly the kind of fixture that looks comfortable on paper but has upset written all over it if the Pilgrims take their foot off the gas for even half an hour.
Alvechurch have made the trip south with serious momentum behind them and a genuine belief they can cause a shock. They have done it before, knocking League One Cheltenham Town out at their own ground back in 2022. Cleverley will know that. His players should know that too.
This FA Cup first round tie is played at Home Park in Plymouth, with the Pilgrims hosting a Southern League Premier Division Central side for what promises to be a genuinely fascinating afternoon of cup football. Plymouth sit comfortably in the League One playoff places and will be expected to progress, but Alvechurch have played five matches just to get here and they are not arriving as tourists.
Cleverley is expected to rotate significantly for this one, and there are a couple of interesting selection calls to keep an eye on.
Plymouth are likely to look something like this, with Cleverley keeping faith with Storer in goal and giving fringe players a chance to impress: Storer; Ross, Mitchell, Rendle; Edwards, Bakinson, White, MacKenzie; Amaechi, Campbell, Evans.
Alvechurch should go with the XI that got them here, built around the pace and directness of Okafor and Newton up top. Their expected lineup: Evans; Rask; Forsyth, Crowther, Ngandu, Sullivan; Reilly, Osborne, Stephens; Okafor, Newton.
Plymouth come into this in decent shape. They have lost just two of their last seven outings across all competitions, and both of those defeats came in back to back league games against Huddersfield Town and Stevenage. Since then, they have bounced back with a narrow win over Cambridge United followed by a goalless draw with Reading that kept them in the top five. Twenty three points from fourteen League One games, sitting six points off the top. This is a side with genuine promotion ambitions and the depth to rotate for cup ties without losing too much quality.
Alvechurch have been excellent recently. Six matches unbeaten, with sixteen goals scored in that run. They hammered Leiston 3 1 away on Halloween and then put four past Spalding in their replay to book this trip. The only slight concern is that they have kept just one clean sheet during that sequence, which tells you they are attack minded but potentially a little loose at the back. Against League One quality, that could be punished.
The gulf between these two is obvious, but form counts for something in cup football. Alvechurch arrive with confidence, goals in their boots and absolutely nothing to lose. That is a dangerous combination.
These two clubs have no meaningful historical record against each other, which is exactly what you would expect when they play in divisions this far apart. Alvechurch have only reached the FA Cup first round for the second time in three seasons, so meetings with Football League opposition are still relatively rare for them.
That said, their 2022 visit to Cheltenham is worth noting again. They went to a League One ground, won 2 1, and did not look out of place. That precedent matters. It shows this group, or at least this club, knows how to handle the occasion.
The result market is about as straightforward as it gets here. Plymouth are four tiers above their opponents, playing at home and will want to avoid last season’s embarrassment of an early cup exit. The interesting angles are in the goals markets and how freely Alvechurch might give the Pilgrims chances to score. With a rotated Plymouth side that could include players pushing for first team minutes, there is a chance of a slightly disjointed performance, but the class difference should still tell.
Yes. Alvechurch have been scoring for fun lately and have shown they carry a genuine attacking threat. Even against stronger opposition they will likely create chances, and Plymouth, with a rotated lineup, may not be as watertight at the back as they would be in a league fixture. Back both teams to get on the scoresheet.
Plymouth to win 4 1. The Pilgrims have too much quality even with a changed side, and Cleverley will want a professional performance to avoid any talk of an upset. Alvechurch will get one, as they tend to score wherever they go, but Plymouth should be well clear by the end.
Over 9.5 corners. Plymouth will be on the front foot for large parts of this, pressing and working wide, while Alvechurch will look to hit on the counter and may win a few set pieces themselves as they try to defend deep. A high corner count feels very likely.
Over 3.5 goals. Alvechurch have been averaging nearly three goals per game in their recent run, and Plymouth will be looking to put the tie to bed early with rotating squad members keen to impress. The conditions are right for a free flowing afternoon with plenty of goals.
Over 2.5 cards. Alvechurch will need to work hard physically to stay in this, and there may be moments of frustration as Plymouth begin to pull clear. A few cynical fouls and a yellow or two on each side feels about right for a cup tie with this kind of class gap.
| Market | Selection |
|---|---|
| Both Teams To Score | Yes |
| Over 3.5 Goals | Over 3.5 |
| Over 9.5 Corners | Over 9.5 |
A Plymouth side pushing for goals from the first whistle combined with an Alvechurch team that has been scoring freely makes this a natural fit for a high scoring, action packed afternoon with plenty of corners thrown in.
Plymouth Argyle 4 1 Alvechurch. The Pilgrims get the job done and progress to the second round, where their FA Cup campaign can really start to build. Cleverley will be pleased with the performance if it comes off cleanly, and a few of the fringe players will have done their chances of more regular minutes no harm at all.
Alvechurch should be proud of getting here and they will not go quietly. But the class difference is simply too much to overcome over ninety minutes at Home Park, even on the most cup magic of afternoons.
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