Plymouth Argyle have been drawn away to face Alvechurch in the first round of the FA Cup. The tie will be played at the non-league side's Lye Meadow ground, providing a classic cup test for the League One outfit.

Plymouth, currently fifth in League One with 23 points from 14 games, will see the fixture as a welcome distraction from their league campaign. They are six points behind leaders Huddersfield and their next league match is away to Sheffield Wednesday on 14 November. Their last outing was a goalless draw at home to Reading on 31 October, a result that extended their recent form to two wins, one draw and two losses. This sequence, which includes a 3-0 loss at Stevenage on 20 October and a 2-1 home win over AFC Wimbledon on 10 October, leaves them with a record of seven wins, two draws and five losses this season. Their goal difference stands at plus two, having scored 21 and conceded 19.

Cup focus

Manager Wayne Rooney is expected to rotate his squad for the cup tie, offering minutes to fringe players. The club's top scorer this season is Aribim Pepple with five goals, and he will be among those hoping to feature. Pepple scored a penalty in the recent 3-2 win at Cambridge United on 24 October, a match where Plymouth's other goals came from an own goal and a strike from Xavier Amaechi. The full fixtures list shows a busy period ahead, making squad management important.

Alvechurch play in the Southern League Premier Division Central, several tiers below Plymouth. The last meeting between the sides was in the 2022-23 FA Cup first round, which Plymouth won 1-0 at Home Park. This season's draw presents another potential banana skin for the Pilgrims.

Recent context

Plymouth's league form has been mixed, with a 3-2 win at Cambridge United on 24 October followed by the stalemate with Reading. They have scored 21 goals and conceded 19 in the league so far. Prior to the Cambridge victory, they suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Huddersfield on 17 October and played out a 2-2 draw at Newport County on 6 October. The cup offers a different challenge and a chance to build momentum.

The tie is scheduled to be played on the weekend of 7-8 November. Plymouth will then turn their attention back to the league and that trip to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday, who currently sit ninth in the table.

The original report is at google.com