Fifth time lucky for Swindon Town boss Sheridan against former club Plymouth Argyle?

Plymouth Argyle face a third away game in eight days as they travel to face ex-manager John Sheridan’s Swindon Town on Tuesday evening in League One.

The former Republic of Ireland international managed Argyle for two-and-a-half seasons between 2013 and 2015, first keeping the side in League Two, before finishing 11th, and then making the play-offs in his final season at Home Park.

Since then, Sheridan has had 10 spells at other clubs and has come up against the Pilgrims on four occasions in that time. All four of those meetings have been against different clubs, with Swindon set to be the fifth different club he has managed against Argyle. Sheridan’s sides have always been the home team in these meetings, yet he has failed to record a victory so far.

The first two meetings, against Newport County and then Notts County, both saw Argyle win 2-1, with the next two, against Fleetwood Town and Wigan Athletic, both ending 1-1.

A win for Sheridan’s side this time out could be crucial in their fight against relegation. The Robins are currently 23rd in the table but could rise as high as 18th with a victory.

The previous meeting between the sides this season finished 4-2 to Plymouth Argyle. The hosts raced into a 2-0 lead after seven minutes with Luke Jephcott and Joe Edwards netting in quick succession, but Hallam Hope pulled a goal back minutes later before Anthony Grant levelled midway through the half.

Within a couple of minutes of the equaliser Argyle were back in front through Jephcott’s second of the match. Argyle took the 3-2 lead into half time, but they also had another advantage with Swindon winger Jonny Smith being sent off just before the break.

Conor Grant sealed the victory for Argyle late on with a freekick which found the top corner from 25-yards.

At the time the Pilgrims stood just outside the play-off places but have since fallen away, largely down to their poor form on the road.

The visitors should head into the game with confidence after their win at Sunderland last week, but with the Greens having won just once away in League One this season Swindon will also see this as an opportunity to get a much needed three points at home.

The Robins have picked up just 13 points from 12 games at the County Ground this campaign and have won just one of their last seven home matches, as well as just one of their last nine games home and away in League One.

Despite Swindon being one of Argyle’s nearest neighbours in the league the Devon side still face a 320-mile round journey, which combined with the trips to Sunderland last Tuesday, and Sheffield United on Saturday, comes out at over 1,700 miles in eight days.

With the distance travelled, Ryan Lowe’s men could be excused if they are a little lethargic, especially considering the effort put into the previous two games, but this is an important game for the Pilgrims who are not that far clear of the relegation zone.

Argyle have had a relatively settled side in recent weeks, but Ben Reeves and Byron Moore will both hope they impressed enough on Saturday to be handed their first starts for a long time, while new signing Niall Ennis could make his full debut, although Ryan Hardie and Jephcott will be expected to continue leading the line.

Jephcott remains the joint top goal scorer in the division after Jonson Clarke-Harris failed to score, include from the spot, as Peterborough beat Ipswich on Saturday, and he will be keen to earn the spot in his own right, especially given he’s scored two against this opposition already.

Adam Lewis could also return having missed Saturday’s game through an injury picked up in training on Friday.

Swindon could have new signing Tyrese Omotoye available after the forward signed from Norwich on Monday. Omotoye played and scored against Argyle in the Papa John’s Trophy back in September.

Rob Hunt is back from suspension but Zeki Fryers, Mathieu Baudry, Tom Broadbent and Jonathan Grounds are all expected to miss out.

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