stourbridge v plymouth (nov 22):

It is more than possible that troubled Plymouth Argyle may finally catch a break this evening – and not just because ESPn have handed them a TV windfall in their FA Cup first round replay at Stourbridge tonight.

The Pilgrims have been fiscally beaten around the head by circumstance for months, and their lack of money as they flirted with going out of existence has left them plum bottom of the football league – with a long way to climb back.

Plymouth managed to keep their hopes of a lucrative third-round tie alive at Home Park a week and a half ago (Nov 12), with an 88th minute equaliser during a 3-3 thriller. Since then, the bookies still have them down as a probable cup upset now they have to travel to their EvoStick League Premier Division rivals (three steps down the football pyramid).

Most of the reason for that is the Stourbridge striker Ryan Rowe, 23, who is fast making a name for himself. He caused a nuisance against Plymouth and is already the topic of conversation among scouts in the Midlands.

However, Plymouth have a fully-fit Luke Daley in the back four, and on-loan striker Carl Fletcher, who made his debut against Stourbridge, has had more time to bed in. Defender Robbie Williams and midfielder Conor Hourihane were also all suspended for the match.

And also, Plymouth had only nine men on the pitch at the end of the first tie, so expect a much better showing this time round. The state of the pitch at Stourbridge (the un-seasonal weather has made for a good surface) should play a hand in ensuring the full-timers beat the part-timers at the second time of asking.

Tips

3pts Plymouth to beat Stourbridge at Evens (2.0 available generally, though the price is strengthening to odds-on in most places)