Match Preview: Plymouth Argyle (A)

15 March 2024

Preston North End will see in the final international break of the season with a first trip to Plymouth Argyle since 2010.

Match Details

Date: Saturday 16^th March, 3pm kick-off
Venue: Home Park
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Kit: Home kit

Supporter Information

Tickets are now off sale, with more than 1,050 PNE fans set to head to Home Park on Saturday.

Fans collecting tickets can do so from the Kawasaki Barn Park turnstiles (B20 to 25) after the club coaches have arrived, and duplicate tickets can also be collected here from 1.30pm. There will be no tickets available to buy on the day.

Home Park is a cashless stadium and supporters are encouraged to use contactless payment methods. Supporters can find out more information about matchday by taking a look through Plymouth Argyle’s guide.

Who’s Available?

After limping off in North End’s defeat to Stoke City, midfielder Ben Whiteman will be missing for at least the next few weeks.

PNE will be boosted, though, by the return of right wing-back Brad Potts, who hasn’t featured since Cardiff City away on 10^th February.

Striker Ched Evans is the only other absentee, although the striker is now back on the grass, having recently had a clear out in his knee.

Opposition Focus

With nine games left of their season, Plymouth Argyle will be looking to pick up valuable points to move themselves into a more comfortable position.

As things stand, they sit in the middle of a relegation battle and just three points outside of the drop zone, following their promotion from League One last term.

Morgan Whittaker’s 18 goals so far this season have helped them in their quest to stay up, however a total of 61 goals conceded at the other end has limited their progress.

A Recent Clash

North End went to the top of the Sky Bet Championship in September thanks to goals from Duane Holmes and Liam Millar in a 2-1 win.

Follow The Action

Supporters worldwide will be able to listen to live commentary of this fixture on iFollow, with BBC Radio Lancashire providing the coverage.

Fans outside of the UK and Ireland can watch the game live, with match passes on sale for £10.

Coverage can also be followed across the club’s social media channels and here on the website.

Match Officials

Referee: John Busby
Assistant Referees: Richard Wild and Greg Read
Fourth Official: Carl Brook

John Busby will referee PNE for the third time this season on Saturday, following the away victory against Huddersfield Town and draw at Millwall.

In total this season, Busby has taken charge of 27 matches, showing 109 yellow cards and one red.

Match Reports

Match Report: Plymouth Argyle 0 PNE 1

16 March 2024

Liam Millar’s 43rd-minute strike earned Preston North End their first victory at Home Park over Plymouth Argyle since 2005.

The Canadian came off the bench after an early injury to Milutin Osmajić and scored the only goal of the day towards the end of the first half.

PNE continued to create and struck the post in the second half through fellow substitute Layton Stewart, but it wasn’t to matter as the door was kept shut and Ryan Lowe’s side went into the international break with three points.

After a lively start to the game, play slowed down slightly as North End were unfortunately forced into two changes within the opening 19 minutes, as both Osmajić and Brad Potts limped off, with the latter playing for the first time since early February.

The first of those subs Millar couldn’t believe he hadn’t opened the scoring when he chested down a clever pass by Mads Frøkjær and somehow sent his six-yard effort wide of goal.

In the 41^st minute, Mickel Miller was probably considering himself a lucky man not to see red for a strong, lunging challenge on skipper Ryan Ledson, which he was booked for.

North End’s frustration at that decision soon turned to jubilation, though, as Millar got his goal. It was Liam Lindsay of all people popping up on the left and sending a cross in for Will Keane, and his flicked header fell for Millar, who struck brilliantly across goal and into the far corner.

There was a big let-off to come for PNE in the eighth minute of stoppage-time as Mustapha Bundu somehow couldn’t find the target with a free header six yards out.

That was a warning sign for the Lilywhites, who came out on the front foot in the second half, and Millar was denied his second of the day in the 51^st minute when Michael Cooper saved low to his right.

PNE continued to create and Millar was again involved in the 69^th minute as he got on the end of a floated cross from Frøkjær, and the No.23’s touch just evaded Will Keane, who was in a great central position in the area.

The chances kept coming and Stewart couldn’t have come much closer to his first goal in professional football as he struck a 20-yard effort viciously against the outside of the post.

Argyle did have a late go at North End, with the likes of Morgan Whittaker and Ryan Hardie trying their luck, but PNE held firm to keep a clean sheet and seal a 1-0 win on the road.

Plymouth Argyle line-up: Cooper; Pleguezuelo (Devine, 61), Phillips, Gibson; Edwards, Randell (Waine, 81), Houghton, Miller (Sousa, 53); Whittaker, Bundu; Hardie. Subs not used: Hazard, Scarr, Wright, Galloway, Roberts, Issaka.

PNE line-up: Woodman; Storey, Lindsay, Hughes; Potts (Stewart, 19), Ledson, McCann, Brady (Cunningham, 88); Frøkjær; Osmajić (Millar, 7), Keane. Subs not used: Cornell, Woodburn, Holmes, Whatmough, Seary.

Attendance: 16,646 (1,068 PNE fans).

Referee: Mr J Busby.

Ticket News

Plymouth Argyle Tickets On Sale

26 February 2024

Tickets for North End’s away game against Plymouth Argyle remain on sale.

PNE will head to Home Park for the first time since 2010 for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday 16^th March, and the club have been allocated 1,739 tickets for this fixture.

Tickets can be bought online until 3pm on Friday, while sales will continue until 5pm in person from the ticket office and over the phone on 0344 856 1966.

Fans collecting tickets at Home Park can do so from the Kawasaki Barn Park turnstiles (B20 to 25) after the club coaches have arrived, and duplicate tickets can also be collected here from 1.30pm. There will be no tickets available to buy on the day.

Home Park is a cashless stadium and supporters are encouraged to use contactless payment methods.

Supporters can find out more information about matchday by taking a look through Plymouth Argyle’s guide. Key points to note are that no parking will be available for independent coaches, and there is also information on road closures and parking.

Ticket Prices

Adults (23-64) £26
Seniors (65+) £21
U23s (18-22) £16
U18s (14-17) £10
U14s (8-13) £7
U8s (0-7) £2

All U14s must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or older.

Disabled Supporter Information

Ambulant disabled supporters will pay in accordance with their relevant age band above, with a free carer ticket available where required.

There are ten tickets available for wheelchair users – also with a free carer ticket – and these are priced as per below.

Adults (23-64) £17
Seniors (65+) £14
U23s (18-22) £11
U18s (0-17) £6

Audio descriptive commentary is available free of charge, and headsets can be pre-booked by contacting disability@pafc.co.uk.

Any supporters who need further assistance on a matchday can also contact Dan Pippen on the same email in advance.

Coach Travel

Coach travel is available from both Deepdale and Leyland, with a departure time of 6am.

Travel is priced at £32 for Ambassadors and £34 for non-Ambassadors.

Car Parking

A limited amount of free parking is available in the Outland Road car park, which is adjacent to Home Park.

There are designated disabled spaces within this area for Blue Badge holders which are available on a first come, first served basis.

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