Their inaugural opportunity in 2024 will arise on New Year's Day as they face off against Watford, who currently sit in 10th place. Watford's position in the standings is eight positions higher than the Pilgrims, and they are also seven points ahead in terms of points.
Taking charge of Argyle for the fourth time, albeit temporarily, are director of football Neil Dewsnip and first team coach Kevin Nancekivell. The club is diligently working towards appointing a new manager and aims to have them in place by the end of the week.
Dewsnip expressed his thoughts to Plymouth Live, stating, "There are several factors contributing to our home form, with one of them being the Green Army. Home Park has become an incredibly challenging environment for our opponents, thanks to our efforts, and we will need our supporters' backing once again on Monday against Watford."
This upcoming match against Watford will be the fourth fixture for Argyle in a span of just 10 days. The physically demanding nature of these matches has certainly put the players' stamina and depth to the test. Thus far, they have managed two draws; the first being a thrilling 3-3 draw against Birmingham City at home, followed by a 2-2 draw against Cardiff City on the road. Their most recent outing was a 2-1 loss to Southampton on Friday.
Regarding the congested schedule, Dewsnip shared, "As you can see from my team selections, we have been rotating players whenever possible. I believe this is a sensible approach, and it is not exclusive to Argyle. All teams are facing similar circumstances."
He continued, "The tempo of today's games is incredibly high, placing immense physical demands on the players. If you fail to rotate, you will undoubtedly struggle at some point."
Given this statement, Dewsnip was asked about the abundance of fixtures within such a short period. In response, he mentioned, "Some may point out that in the past, games were played on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. The demand for football during the festive season has always been there. Easter follows a similar pattern. As a football fan myself, I wouldn't mind having a game every day."
Watford, led by manager Valerien Ismael, showcased their strength with impressive away victories against Preston North End (5-1) and Blackburn Rovers (2-1) around the Christmas period. However, they stumbled with a 4-1 loss at home against Bristol City, followed by a 1-1 draw against Stoke City at Vicarage Road on Friday.
Dewsnip acknowledged Watford's attacking prowess, declaring, "They have a propensity for attacking play, and we too will adopt an attacking mindset at Home Park. This promises to be an exhilarating contest, without a doubt."