Plymouth will host Alvechurch in the FA Cup first round at Home Park on Saturday, 7 November. The 3pm kick-off offers a break from League One action for a side sitting fifth in the table with 22 points from 13 games, a record of seven wins, one draw and five losses.
Their most recent match was a goalless draw at home to Reading on 31 October. That result followed a 3-2 victory at Cambridge United, where Aribim Pepple scored a penalty to help secure the points. Pepple is the club's top scorer this season with five goals in 12 appearances. The team's overall league form shows 21 goals scored and 19 conceded, giving them a goal difference of +2.
Recent form
Plymouth's last five league results show a need for greater consistency. After beating AFC Wimbledon 2-1 on 10 October, they lost 2-0 at home to Huddersfield and 3-0 away at Stevenage. The win at Cambridge and the draw with Reading halted that slide. The sequence of results in their last five matches is two wins, one draw and two losses. In the broader promotion race, they currently sit three points behind the league leaders, Huddersfield.
Alvechurch, who play in the Southern League Premier Division Central, enter the tie as significant underdogs. They reached this stage with a 2-1 victory over Mickleover in the fourth qualifying round.
The starting line-up against Reading featured a 3-4-3 formation with James Storer in goal, a back three of Julio Pleguezuelo, A. Mitchell and W. Harding, and wing-backs J. Edwards and Jack Mackenzie. Harvey White and Bakinson anchored the midfield, with Xavier Amaechi, Aribim Pepple and W. Evans leading the attack. Several players who have been on the periphery, such as Finley Craske and Ryan Law, could be in contention for a start.
Home Park is expected to be close to capacity for the fixture, with a large contingent of Alvechurch fans making the trip. The match officials have been confirmed, with James Oldham appointed as the referee.
A victory would provide a welcome boost ahead of a tough league trip to Sheffield Wednesday on 14 November. Wednesday are currently ninth in the table, making that a key fixture in Plymouth's promotion push.
Plymouth Parkway, the city's seventh-tier club, have sold out their FA Cup first round tie. The club confirmed ticket sales for their 9 November match against Berkhamsted at Bolitho Park exceeded 2,000. Manager Karl Curtis said the cup run provides "belief and it's continuing the momentum." Plymouth Argyle, fifth in League One with 23 points, host Alvechurch on 7 November.
