Luton Town Football Club

WHO? Plymouth Argyle, the League 2 leaders, are the Hatters’ next visitors here at Kenilworth Road. Formed in 1886, Argyle are a year younger than the Town. The Devon club pipped the Town to the final Play-Off place in League 2 last season. Argyle, however, lost out in the two-legged semi-final to Wycombe Wanderers. 

TICKETS. Fancy coming to the game? Well, tickets for the match against Argyle are now on sale at the ticket office at category A prices, details of which can be found here. Games against the Green are always worth watching, so remember to purchase your tickets quick to avoid disappointment.

POPPY APPEAL LAUNCH. The local branch of the Royal British Legion will be launching this year’s Poppy Appeal on Saturday. The matchball will be (weather permitting) delivered by a parachuting Red Devils display team before a minute’s silence prior to kick-off. Read more about it all here.

HAVEN’T WE MET BEFORE? Oh yes. Saturday’s meeting with Argyle will be the 95th between the two clubs. Plymouth hold the advantage in the head-to-head record, winning 40 to the Hatters’ 25. At Kenilworth Road the Town have won 17 to Plymouth’s 11. The Pilgrims were victorious on their last visit, winning 1-0 in September last year. The Hatters’ last recorded a home win against Argyle in a League Cup tie in August 2008 with Tristan Plummer and Rossi Jarvis on target in a 2-0 win. 

LEAGUE 2 RIVALRY. Both clubs have eyes on winning promotion this season which brings back memories of the time the Town and Argyle went toe-to-toe for the Division Three title in 2001/02. Argyle raced away with a lead at the top before the Hatters’ club record run of 12 straight wins closed the gap. However, with some-less than savoury words from then-Town boss Joe Kinnear ringing in their ears, the Greens surged clear in their final three games to take the title with 102 points. 

IN CHARGE. Although Argyle finished in seventh place last term, John Sheridan left Home Park in the summer, citing family reasons, but was swiftly replaced by former Ross County manager Derek Adams. The 40-year-old Scot guided unfancied Ross to the Scottish Premier League after winning the Scottish First Division title in 2012.

PREVIOUS FORM. Adams has taken little time to work his magic down in Devon as the Pilgrims currently top the League 2 table. On Tuesday they lost their seven-game unbeaten run in a 1-0 defeat at Oxford. But Argyle certainly won’t be fazed by a trip to Kenilworth Road given their excellent form on the road this season. They have only lost twice but won four times, with excellent victories at Wimbledon, Northampton, Wycombe and, most recently, at Notts County.

IN THE RANKS. Argyle are blessed with one of the best squads in League 2 with experienced goalkeeper Luke McCormick one of the best stoppers in the division. However, it is goals that win you games and striker Reuben Reid is the Greens’ main threat. The 27-year-old scored 18 times last season as Argyle reached the Play-Offs and is now fast approaching 100 senior goals. However the Town will be pleased to know that Reid has a hip injury and will be unavailable this week.

DID YOU KNOW? Argyle have set the record for most championships won in the third tier, having finished first in the Third Division South twice, the Third Division once and the Second Division once.

SAY THAT AGAIN? Plymouth haven’t conceded a goal in the second half of a game away from Home Park this season. All of the goals the Pilgrims’ defence has conceded of away games have come in the first half of matches. Strange, eh?

KNOWING ME, KNOWING YOU…Town have former Greens in their ranks in the shape of Scott Griffiths and Olly Lee, who both spent time on-loan at Home Park. Lee played 90 minutes against the Town in the last meeting between the clubs in January. Argyle have Ryan Brunt in their squad. The striker spent a short time on-loan from Stoke in November 2011 but failed to score in six appearances.

TOWN TEAM NEWS. Left-back Scott Griffiths is in contention for a return to the side having been given time off by manager John Still to be with his family following the birth of his son. Right-back Stephen O’Donnell is due to have a hernia operation and will miss out. Striker Craig Mackail-Smith has a nerve problem in his hamstring and will be assessed ahead of the game.

REF WATCH. Cleveland referee Ross Joyce is making his first ever visit to Kenilworth Road. Saturday’s man-in-the-middle has overseen six matches involving the Hatters before, however. And the Town have won three and drawn three of these matches, the most recent the 2-1 win at Grimsby in the Conference title-winning season. So far this season he has refereed nine games, showing 33 yellow cards and two reds. 

LIVE AND ONLINE. As ever, we’ll be reporting live from Kenilworth Road. Build-up starts at noon, so get on our early blog on the Wall for all the latest updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for photos, videos and all the behind-the-scenes action. Hatters Player subscribers will be able to listen to live commentary from just before 3pm with Simon Pitts in the press box. 

Post-match, remember to check out the official website, YouTube channel and Player for reports, interviews and photographs and don’t forget to tune in from midday on Sunday for all the highlights in glorious HD!