Recent Plymouth Argyle events will send shudder down Portsmouth, Cardiff City spines | OneFootball

The Greens have proven they still have a chance of Championship survival, leaving plenty looking over their shoulder right now

Plymouth Argyle are a side revitalised under Miron Muslic, and the Greens’ recent heroics will put fear into the minds of the likes of Portsmouth and Cardiff City as we head into the Championship run-in.

As we headed into 2025, there were plenty that were already prepared to mark the Pilgrims down for a spot in League One for the following campaign, with Wayne Rooney’s spell in charge not bringing the results required.

But since the Austrian has taken charge at Home Park, there is a different feel around the place, with the feeling between players and fanbase closer than ever, with that sensation victory over Liverpool helping to heal the wounds of the months before.

Not only were Argyle able to keep the best side in the country at bay in a one-off cup tie, but their recent performances in the league have also proven they are on an upwards curve as it stands, with the fight for survival still very much on their agenda.

Miron Muslic transforms Plymouth Argyle since January appointment

The first few weeks of Muslic’s time at Home Park have been something of a whirlwind, with the Greens overcoming Brentford as his appointment was announced, before facing off against Oxford United after just a single training session with his new charges.

Clashes with QPR and Burnley soon followed within a week, meaning the Austrian barely got anytime on the training pitch to implement his new ideas, but the last two weeks have proven what he can achieve when given the time to do so.

In a way, the 5-0 trouncing from Burnley was the wake up call the side needed, as they travelled to the Stadium of Light up for battle, with their gladiatorial performance rewarded with a last-minute equaliser from Nathanael Ogbeta.

In as little as three days, Argyle had transformed from a side at sixes at sevens against the Clarets, to a team that were intense in their defensive efforts; hounding and harassing the opposition, and putting up more than a fight than they had away from home all season.

While they had a point in the bag, that first win under their new boss still remained elusive, but as Muslic finally got a whole week on the training ground before Albion came to town, that game plan had been revised down to a T, with no quarter given to a side intent on keeping their play-off push alive.

A late Jayson Molumby sucker-punch looked to have put a dampener on proceedings, only for Ryan Hardie to steal the limelight with a brace to earn all three points, the first time they had done so since Bonfire Night.

With that has come a renewed sense of belief, which has grown exponentially after seeing a side battling for domestic and European glory fail to break them down, and they will now have the belief that they can take on anyone thrown in their path.

Portsmouth, Cardiff City must fear Plymouth Argyle revival

For the likes of Portsmouth, Cardiff - and even Derby County and Luton who currently occupy the other two relegation spots - there must have been a thought that there were just a pair of positions to avoid in the Championship this season, with 24th already being wrapped up by the rudderless Pilgrims.

But what a difference a month, or even a couple of weeks makes, with things tightening up as we head into the crunch period of the season, with the pressure on each 90 minutes of football growing with each passing fixture.

The Bluebirds make the trip to Home Park next weekend, in a match that will have plenty riding on it from both sides, as precious points are on offer for the victor, and momentum swinging in favour of the team that emerges victorious.

That follows a midweek trip to Kenilworth Road, where the current bottom two do battle, and after plenty of positive signs in recent weeks, Muslic needs to finally get the monkey off his side’s back regarding their away form, with the hunt for a first win on the road still on the go.

With three months to go, there is still plenty to play for at the bottom of the Championship, and Plymouth Argyle have given themselves more than a fighting chance of avoiding the drop for a second-successive season.

This is a side up for the fight, and after their FA Cup heroics and recent league outings, there won’t be many who fancy their chances against a rejuvenated Pilgrims side in the coming weeks.