Match Preview | Cardiff City vs. Plymouth Argyle
The Bluebirds return to Sky Bet Championship action this weekend, hosting Plymouth Argyle.
The fixture will take place at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, October 19th, with a kick-off time of 12.30pm.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | IN THE DUGOUT
Plymouth Argyle's manager is Wayne Rooney, who was appointed in May on a three-year contract.
In his playing days, Rooney had a stellar career, scoring 253 goals for Manchester United in all competitions, making him the club’s top scorer of all time.
His tally of 183 Premier League goals is the third most scored by a player in the competition for one club, behind Harry Kane’s tally for Tottenham Hotspur and Sergio Agüero’s record for Manchester City.
Moving to management in 2020, Rooney began with Derby County, before going on to manage D.C. United in the MLS.
He returned to the English pyramid with Birmingham City, before becoming the boss of the Pilgrims.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | SEASON SO FAR
Our opponents this Saturday head into the fixture currently sitting 14th in the Sky Bet Championship table.
From their nine fixtures so far, the side have amassed 11 points, winning three, drawing two and losing four.
Ten of those points have come at home, with the Pilgrims claiming one point on their travels from four away matches.
Last time out, they claimed an impressive 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers, ending in dramatic fashion.
Taking the lead through Michael Obafemi, Joe Rankin-Costello equalised for the visitors at Home Park, before Morgan Whittaker netted a 97th minute winner.
OPPOSITION FOCUS | KEY PLAYER
Argyle’s key player is undoubtedly attacker Whittaker, who has impressed during his time at the club.
He spent the first half of the 2022/23 season on loan with the Pilgrims, where he netted nine goals in League One.
Joining permanently at the start of last season, he scored 20 goals in all competitions last term and was crucial to their campaign.
So far this season, Whittaker has two goals, coming against Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers.
Summer recruit Ibrahim Cissoko has also impressed this term, after joining on loan from Toulouse. He has netted three goals in seven league matches.
STATZONE | CITY'S RECORD
This Saturday will be the 61st meeting between the Bluebirds and Plymouth Argyle.
Of those clashes, City have won on 22 occasions, while 19 have ended in a draw and 19 have gone the Pilgrims' way.
The first ever meeting was on September 22nd, 1930, with the Bluebirds claiming a 4-1 victory. Prolific attacker Walter Robbins netted a brace that day, while Ralph Williams and Len Davies were also on the scoresheet.
City's last home clash with the side was on Boxing Day last year, which ended in a 2-2 draw. Whittaker netted a brace for the visitors, while an own goal from Matt Butcher and a fine strike from Karlan Grant were the route of the Bluebirds' goals.