We're ready for our Hoe down

Plymouth were a club left in limbo for part of the summer. Just about everyone knew that Tony Pulis wanted to go back to Stoke, I think most of the Plymouth fans supported that and in mid June he finally made the return journey to the Windy City.

It took Plymouth just two weeks to find his replacement, taking QPR's gardening expert Ian Holloway after he'd been out of the firing line for a few months. They could hardly have gone for anyone more different than the dour, miserable Pulis.

Holloway's very much at home at Plymouth, his West Country accent fits in very nicely, and no doubt the two managers will be able to have a conversation tomorrow afternoon that most of us from Burnley won't be able to understand.

He took over a club that had ended last season in fourteenth place, having scored just 39 league goals all season. Only relegated Millwall had scored less. This season they are already over half way to that total from the first twelve games.

Since taking over he has added to the squad, he said immediately that he would need to bring in some forwards with Nick Chadwick, once linked with us in a swap deal with Gifton, the only striker. He spent £300,000 to strengthen that area of the squad, £200,000 going on young Cambridge born Manchester United striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and the other £100,000 being spent on bringing 34 year old Barry Hayles from Millwall. Hayles had previously played for Holloway at Bristol Rovers.

The only other pre-season signing was Exeter City defender Gary Sawyer, who has made two substitute appearances, and more recently he gave short term contracts to Marcel Seip and Cherno Samba. Dutchman Seip has moved from Herenveen whilst Samba signed from Cadiz.

Samba had previously been with Millwall, was tipped as a future England star, and almost made a £1.5 million move to Liverpool. That was a few years ago and now he's trying to resurrect his career at Home Park.

They got the season off to a good start, and have hardly faltered, losing only twice so far at home to Sheffield Wednesday and then at Southampton, that last defeat coming five weeks ago when we were winning at Stoke.

Click HERE to see all Plymouth's results this season.

This is very much a game between two in form teams, Plymouth have hit three goals in each of their last three home games – but Burnley will be looking for a first Home Park victory since 1994 when we won the Play Off Semi-Final. I had to get that one in, the night when they were taking coach bookings for Wembley.

Ian Holloway has been in good form in the last couple of days, probably the top manager in the league for quotes. He said that fans should not be expectant, but optimistic, and that they should get on with supporting the team.

He also took time out to lavish praise on Burnley and Steve Cotterill. “I would never be so derogatory to say Burnley are punching above their weight,” Holloway said. “I think they are doing very well and they are where their manager believes his squad might take him.

“He brought in some very good free transfers in the summer. Steve Jones is an excellent player and had a lot of choices. Cotterill convinced him to go to Burnley.

“With the tradition they have had over the years, I think Burnley are a big club. Steve Cotterill knows where he is going and what he is doing. And it is a game I am absolutely delighted to be coming next.”

As for Holloway's team, Barry Hayles has a groin injury but is expected to play. “Barry Hayles has got a sour groin again but my physio says it is not as bad as Barry thinks it is.” Nick Chadwick could return to the bench after injury but definitely out is Lee Hodges, he's recovered from a medial ligament injury but he's not played a reserve game as yet and won't be risked.

The big question will be at the back with Mathias Doumbe available again after completing a one match ban after being sent off last Sunday in their 3-1 win over Derby at Home Park. Marcel Seip and Hasney Aljofree played at Barnsley, but Doumbe is expected to return with Aljofree the likely one to miss out.

Plymouth could line up: Luke McCormick, Paul Connolly, Marcel Seip, Mathias Doumbe, Tony Capaldi, David Norris, Paul Wotton, Lilian Nalis, Akos Buzsaky, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Barry Hayles. Subs from: Romain Larrieu, Hasney Aljofree, Luke Summerfield, Bojan Djordjic, Gary Sawyer, Cherno Samba, Nick Chadwick.

Click HERE to see the full Plymouth squad.

John McGreal is the main concern for Steve Cotterill, and the news doesn't look good with McGreal still limping on his twisted knee. Johnny Mac has a wonderful ability to recover from injury but this game might well have come too soon for him and I expect him to be ruled out.

Wayne Thomas will be completing his suspension so that should mean a first league start for Stephen Foster since he signed from Crewe in the summer. He's made five substitute appearances, as well as starting the Carling Cup tie against Hartlepool. He came on for McGreal on Tuesday just before half time.

Other than that it is likely to be the side that has done so well in recent weeks, with John Spicer set to take the place on the bench with Foster starting.

Likely Burnley team: Brian Jensen, Frank Sinclair, Michael Duff, Stephen Foster, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott, James O'Connor, Micah Hyde, Steve Jones, Andy Gray, Gifton Noel-Williams. Subs: Chris McCann, John Spicer, Garreth O'Connor, Alan Mahon, Kyle Lafferty.

Our last visit to Home Park was just over a year ago, coming during our poor start to the season. The previous season had seen a poor game that we lost 1-0 to a last minute penalty given away by Gary Cahill, and this encounter ended with the same 1-0 scoreline.

It started brightly enough and we were the better side in the first half. We did find the net through Ade Akinbiyi but he was ruled offside, and both he and Gifton missed other reasonable chances. It was 0-0 at half time but we should have been in front, we needed to get a goal early in the second half.

The deadlock was broken just 30 seconds in and it all came about when Micah Hyde gave the ball away in the centre of the pitch and despite clearing the ball into the box it dropped for the slow lump by the name of Micky Evans and he made no mistake.

We dominated the rest of the game, and we weren't helped by incompetent referee Stroud. Twice Harley was brought down when clear and twice he gave the free kicks the other way, incredible decisions.

Graham Branch came on, had two clear cut chances but didn't get a shot in on either occasion and by then Plymouth sensed victory. Some Burnley fans were calling for the manager's head, surely frustrated by a game that should have brought us all three points and brought us none.

The teams were;

Plymouth: Romain Larrieu, Mathias Doumbe, Taribo West, Hasney Aljofree, Rufus Brevett (Anthony Barness 74), David Norris, Paul Wotton, Bojan Djordjic (Tony Capaldi 87), Matt Derbyshire (Nick Chadwick 71), Micky Evans, Scott Taylor. Subs not used: Akos Buzsaky, Bjarni Gudjonsson.

Burnley: Danny Coyne, Michael Duff, Keith Lowe, John McGreal, Jon Harley, Wade Elliott (Graham Branch 57), Micah Hyde, James O'Connor, John Spicer, Gifton Noel-Williams, Ade Akinbiyi. Subs not used: Brian Jensen, Duane Courtney, Chris McCann, Karl Bermingham.