Michael Beale would have gone into last weekend’s Tees-Wear derby knowing that a win over Middlesbrough would have gone some way to winning over Sunderland’s fanbase.
Instead, Beale had to make do with a comeback draw at the Riverside Stadium, taking him to 11 points from eight games since his arrival in the North-East.
While that return is below expectations, it has been enough to keep Sunderland in the mix for promotion, just four points separating them from fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion.
Of all the teams in contention for the playoffs, Sunderland have the most favourable run of fixtures on paper, facing no team in the top eight until March 5.
Nevertheless, we are at the stage of the season when teams lower down the standings are fighting for survival, as has been the case with Plymouth under Ian Foster.
Losing Steven Schumacher to Stoke City was deemed to be a blow at the time, but it has brought a new lease of life to Argyle with a hatful of fresh faces.
Back-to-back victories have been posted against Cardiff City and Swansea City in the Championship, taking Plymouth up to the dizzy heights of 15th spot after promotion from League One in 2022-23.
Although Plymouth went down 4-1 to Leeds United in the FA Cup fourth round on Tuesday, that setback will not dent confidence and enthusiasm surrounding what has been an excellent comeback campaign to the second tier.
A run of three successive fixtures at Home Park follow this game, the location for three quarters of Plymouth’s points, but they will be desperate to build on finally ending their 14-game winless streak on the road last week.
