As Plymouth Argyle’s Championship survival hopes grow slimmer by the day, their fate rests on a knife’s edge.
With just two matches left in the season, the club remains in a precarious position, fighting desperately to avoid relegation.
The recent turmoil in the managerial hotseat has left the team struggling, and their survival now hinges on a series of unlikely outcomes.
The Aftermath of Wayne Rooney’s Short-Lived Tenure
Wayne Rooney’s departure as Plymouth’s manager in December did little to shield him from the ongoing criticism of his disastrous time at the helm.
After being appointed last May, the former England captain’s stint was marked by an underwhelming record of just four wins in 23 Championship matches, including 13 defeats.
His tenure ended with Plymouth in the relegation zone, and the club has been fighting to recover ever since.
Muslic’s Takeover and Optimism for Survival
When Miron Muslic stepped in as Plymouth’s new boss, he was tasked with the immense challenge of keeping the team in the Championship.
Despite taking over a club in disarray, Muslic has managed to pick up 23 points from his 19 games in charge.
Reflecting on the season so far, he has been vocal about his belief that if he had been appointed earlier, Plymouth would have been safe by now.
“I think if I’m the head coach from day one, we would be far, far away from the relegation zone,” Muslic said confidently. “We would have been safe five games ago already.”
His belief in his approach is unwavering, and he’s certain that with his staff in charge from the outset, Plymouth would not be fighting for survival now.
The Remaining Matches and Plymouth’s Fight for Survival
With only two matches left in the season—an away trip to Preston and a home clash with Leeds—Plymouth is clinging to a faint hope of staying in the Championship.
Currently, they sit three points from safety, which means they need to win both of their remaining fixtures.
But even if they manage to secure six points, their fate remains out of their hands.
Plymouth will also need Luton Town, Cardiff City, and Derby County to slip up in their final games if they are to avoid the drop. Despite these tough odds, Muslic is not ready to give up.
His optimism stems from recent performances that suggest the team still has a fighting chance.
Recent Performances Fueling Hope
The victory over Coventry on Monday, combined with a solid run of results in their last eight matches, has given Plymouth a glimmer of hope.
Muslic believes the team has shown they are capable of competing with the best, and this could be their ticket to survival.
“The performance today, the performance at Middlesbrough, we’ve taken nine points at Home Park against teams like Norwich, Sheffield United, and Coventry,” Muslic explained after the Coventry win.
“These are teams playing for the Premier League, and they all lost here in Plymouth at Home Park. That gives me the confidence.”
For now, Plymouth will continue to fight until the very end, hoping that a combination of strong performances and a bit of luck can help them secure a third consecutive season in the Championship.
But with the clock ticking down, every match is crucial.