Source: FOOTYMAD
Toon Can Put Another Nail In Mariner's Coffin
Newcastle can put Plymouth boss Paul Mariner under the cosh at Home Park, but the former Ipswich striker says he wants to stay in the job ... whatever the outcome of the current campaign. Paul Mariner: "Of course, I love this place. "I want to be here passionately, I care about what I'm doing. "It's up to the bosses. "I want to be here and I think what we've done since we've been here, if you look at the record, is not too bad. "This is where I'm employed and this is the club that gave me the start and also a start in management. "And I want to prove to the people, to the fans, to the board, to everybody that we can do this job and I know that we can. "We've got to play two of the best sides in the division. To pick up points from those two teams is going to be difficult. Is it impossible? No. "You don't know in football and especially in this division, I defy anybody to predict what's going to happen." PLYMOUTH'S CURRENT FORM Watford 1 Plymouth 0APRIL 10: Coca-Cola Championship at Vicarage Road. Plymouth 0 Middlesbrough 2APRIL 5: Coca-Cola Championship at Home Park. Doncaster 1 Plymouth 2APRIL 3: Coca-Cola Championship at the Keepmoat Stadium. Plymouth 0 Barnsley 0MARCH 30: Coca-Cola Championship at Home Park. Plymouth 0 Blackpool 2MARCH 27: Coca-Cola Championship at Home Park. Ipswich 0 Plymouth 2MARCH 23: Coca-Cola Championship at Portman Road. PLYMOUTH'S LAST GAME: WATFORD 1 PLYMOUTH 0 Stockdale, Duguid, Reda Johnson, N'Gala, Eckersley (Judge 67), Clark, Damien Johnson, Bhasera (Cooper 89), Bolasie (Joe Mason 68), Mackie,Wright-Phillips. Subs Not Used: Larrieu, Fallon, Barker, Folly. Heidar Helguson's goal early in the second half boosted Watford's survival hopes and left fellow coca-Cola Championship strugglers Plymouth staring down the barrel of relegation. Watford were the better side for the majority of a tense affair, with a bobbly surface preventing either side from producing much fluent football. They got their reward five minutes after the interval when on-loan Icelandic striker Helguson pounced from close range for his 10th goal since joining from QPR. The result lifted the Hornets three points clear of the relegation places but leaves Plymouth five points adrift of safety with only three games remaining, with promoted Newcastle next up. The kick-off was delayed by more than five minutes after referee Colin Webster pulled a calf muscle during the warm-up and was replaced by Warren Atkin. Plymouth midfielder Chris Clark was the first to threaten but failed to hit the target with his speculative shot and Ross Jenkins blazed over at the other end during a scrappy and nervous opening. Watford began to get on top and had the opportunity to threaten from a free-kick just outside the area but Damien Johnson's setpiece was headed wide by Helguson. Poor marking from a corner allowed Plymouth midfielder Yannick Bolasie to find space at the near post but his header failed to trouble Watford goalkeeper Scott Loach. The deadlock was almost broken around the half-hour mark when the ball fell to Hornets striker Danny Graham but he snatched at the ball and his miscued shot bounced over Plymouth goalkeeper David Stockdale and struck the outside of the post before being cleared to safety. The home side went close again late in the first half when Don Cowie's flick rolled agonisingly wide of the far post after good work by Helguson but the half finished goalless. Watford's pressure continued after the break and Eustace's header was saved by Stockdale before Helguson should have done better when the ball arrived at his feet quickly and he stabbed it over from eight yards out. He made amends just two minutes later though as the deadlock was finally broken. Cowie and Graham did well down the right and the former's cross was met by Eustace, who challenged Stockdale in the air and Helguson was left with a simple tap-in from close range. Plymouth's Jamie Mackie was then booked after he went in late on Dale Bennett before Helguson headed over. The visitors offered little in reply despite going a goal behind and Paul Mariner made a double substitution in the 67th minute in a bid to provide his side with a creative spark. It proved in vain though and Watford comfortably held on, with Loach rarely called into action. HOME PARK - PLYMOUTH What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Away fans are housed in the Barn Park End, which is now all seated and covered. As you would expect from a new stand the facilities and views of the playing action are both good. The normal allocation for this end is 1,300 seats, although this can be increased to 2,022, if demand requires it. The atmosphere is normally good and even though I have received a number of reports of the stewarding being somewhat over zealous in the away end, on my last visit it was fine. No problems were encountered outside the ground and on the whole it was a good day out. The only down side was that the concourse was a bit cramped and with a sell out away end it was rather crowded. The Shire Foods Chicken Balti Pie' (£2.40), is available inside the ground, along with other Pies and Pasties (£2.40), Sausage Rolls (£2.20), Burgers (£2.90) and Cheeseburgers (£3). Where To Drink? Probably the best bet is the Britannia which is a sizeable Wetherspoons outlet and around a 10 minute walk away from the ground (from the car park outside the football ground, turn left and the pub is down the road on the right hand corner). For most matches the pub which is busy normally, has a queue of fans waiting to get in outside, but this is controlled by the security staff, so you don't normally have to wait too long to gain entrance. Although away fan friendly, the pub doesn't tolerate away supporters singing their clubs songs and any who do are quickly ejected from the premises, so you have been warned. Near to the pub is normally a van selling pasties, which looked to be doing a roaring trade on my last visit. Opposite the Britannia is the Embassy Club which is best avoided by away fans. Otherwise alcohol is available within the ground. How To Get There By Car & Where To Park Take the M5 to the South West and at the end of the motorway continue onto the A38 (The ground is well signposted from the outskirts of Plymouth on the A38). On entering Plymouth, turn left onto the A386 (towards Plymouth). When this road splits into two, keep on the left hand side (again sign posted Plymouth) and after about a mile you will see the ground on your left. The ground is well signposted 'Plymouth Argyle Home Park' on the way into Plymouth. There is quite a large car park at the ground, which is free. It is operated on a 'first in before the game, first out after the game basis'. If you are last in, then on average it takes around half an hour to clear. The car park is normally full by 2.30pm on matchdays. There is some street parking if you drive past the ground, heading away from the city centre. By Train Plymouth railway station is about one and a half miles away, so either grab a cab (£3) or embark on the 20 minute walk. As you come out of the station turn right and down the hill and under the railway bridge. Just keep walking straight along this road and you will eventually reach the ground on your right. Alternatively (except for night games) then Andrew Chapman suggests a more picturesque route: 'Finally I would recommend turning right into Ford Park Road, at the closed Pennycomequick pub/roundabout just downhill from the station and then take the 2nd left into Holdsworth Street, which will lead you up a steep hill into Central Park, where you'll see the ground as soon as you reach the top of the hill. It is a lot nicer route than following the roads - after all (apart from Aldershot) there are no other league clubs situated in a public park!' Chris Bennett adds; ' It's a much nicer walk than going up Alma Road and quicker as well'.
