Welsh visit stirs up bad memories

FOUR SURVIVORS WILL LOOK TO AVENGE 5-0 THRASHING

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

WHEN Plymouth Argyle went into their away Championship match against Cardiff City on October 19, 2024 the start of Wayne Rooney's tenure as head coach had been showing some promise.

The Pilgrims were in 14th position in the table after winning 2-1 against Blackburn Rovers at Home Park in their previous match, which had been a fortnight earlier as a result of an international break. There was optimism around Argyle and their prospects for the rest of the season at the time, only for them to be thrashed 5-0 at the Cardiff City Stadium in a Saturday lunchtime kickoff.

The visitors were already trailing 2-0 when Ibrahim Cissoko was sent-off late in the first half for shoving over Perry Ng after the Cardiff defender had kicked the ball at the on-loan Toulouse winger when he was on the ground after being fouled.

Argyle went to concede three more goals in the second half and it was all downhill for them - and Rooney - after that as they lost nine of their next 13 Championship games, and won only one of them, before the Manchester United and England legend left the club on New Year's Eve. Their form, and confidence, collapsed following that crushing defeat by Cardiff and, ultimately, it led to the Pilgrims being relegated - along with Cardiff and Luton Town - at the end of last term.

Now, not much more than 10 months later, Argyle are returning to the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday and only four of the 16 players who featured last time are still at the club.

Here is a look at the Argyle starting lineup and substitutes on October 19, 2024 and where they are now.