Bristol City’s Championship quality too good for Argyle

PLYMOUTH Argyle found the Championship quality of Bristol City too good for them as they were beaten 2-0 at Home Park on Saturday in their final preseason fixture ahead of their 2025/26 League One campaign.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

Both of City’s goals came in the first half and were very well taken by Danish striker Emil Riis, and the visitors had a number of other good opportunities during the game, with Luca Ashby-Hammond making a couple of excellent saves for Argyle.

At the other end of the pitch, the Pilgrims lacked attacking punch and came up with only one goal attempt all match, which was when 18-year-old substitute Joe Hatch had a close range header superbly saved by Lewis Thomas.

Tom Cleverley will have learned a lot about his new-look Argyle squad from this defeat and while there were not many positives for him to take it was still a useful exercise to highlight the main areas, particularly defensively, that he and the players need to improve on.

After starting preseason on June 20, the serious business of league football is now almost upon the Pilgrims, beginning against Barnsley at the Theatre of Greens on Saturday.

Iceland international defender Victor Palsson was Argyle’s captain against City because Joe Edwards, who began his career with City, was named among 10 substitutes.

Palsson and Kornel Szucs were the central defensive duo with Matty Sorinola and Brendan Galloway the two fullbacks.

‘There was a midfield quartet of Xavier Amaechi, Bradley Ibrahim, Brendan Wiredu and Bali Mumba, while Owen Oseni led the attack with support from Caleb Watts.

It was announced before the game that Mumba has changed his squad number from 2 to 11, which was previously worn by Callum Wright before he recently exited Home park and completed a season-long loan move to Wigan Athletic.