Plymouth Argyle

Pilgrims' Hodges keen to stay put
Plymouth midfielder Lee Hodges is desperate to extend his tenure at Home Park with his current deal due to expire at the end of the season. The 32-year-old has impressed Pilgrims boss Tony Pulis since returning from a long-term back injury in January. And the former Reading player is hoping his form will see him rewarded with a fresh deal at the Championship outfit. Hodges told the Herald Sport: "I've been happy with my form and it's no secret that I'd like to stay here."

Leeds v Plymouth
Striker Jermaine Beckford is ruled out with a hamstring injury as Leeds look to end a run of five Championship matches without a win. Midfielders Eirik Bakke and Joe Griffiths could stake a claim after coming through a midweek reserve game. Plymouth boss Tony Pulis is likely to stick with the side that beat Wolves 2-0 last week. On-loan striker Leon Clarke, who was forced to sit that game out, is ready to return.

Leeds 0-0 Plymouth
Leeds United's slim hopes of automatic promotion were left hanging by a thread after they extended their winless streak to six matches. The closest Kevin Blackwell's side came to scoring came nine minutes before the interval when the recalled David Healy cracked a shot against the post. But Plymouth fully deserved their point as Leeds failed to sparkle up front. Indeed, the visitors could have won had any player converted Leon Clarke's volley across goal in the second half. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell: "I can't give up on second because it's still possible and there are four games left - we still have a chance of automatic promotion. "The lads worked their socks off today and I want to praise them because they've assured themselves of a play-off place with four games to go. "It's a great achievement for Leeds to be third at this stage of the season - and the lads got booed off - but I can understand the fans' frustrations." Plymouth manager Tony Pulis on Leeds midfielder Liam Miller tangled with David Norris: "I thought it was a stonewall penalty at the end when Miller fouled Norris. "It was two yards inside the box and that's happened to us three times in three weeks now. It happened against Wolves and Preston as well. "It was scrappy in the first half but we stepped it up after the break and created some good opportunities. Neil Sullivan made the save of the game from Leon Clarke. But obviously I'm biased - I see everything through green eyes." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leeds: Sullivan, Kelly (Beckford 36), Butler, Gregan, Crainey, Richardson, Derry, Douglas (Miller 74), Healy (Lewis 68), Hulse, Blake. Subs Not Used: Bennett, Kilgallon. Booked: Healy. Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Hodges (Pulis 90), Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Capaldi, Pericard (Buzsaky 87), Clarke (Evans 71). Subs Not Used: McCormick, Zebroski. Booked: Nalis, Connolly, Larrieu. Att: 20,650. Ref: M Thorpe (Suffolk).

Chairman praises Pulis success
Plymouth chariman Paul Stapleton has praised manager Tony Pulis and his players for securing the club's place in the Championship. Argyle's 0-0 draw on Saturday against Leeds removed any mathematical chance of them being relegated. He told the Plymouth's website: "We are delighted that the club is continuing to make such healthy progress. "Credit must go to the hard work of Tony Pulis and his players. They deserve all the players."

Millwall 1-1 Plymouth
Marvin Williams' second-half equaliser was not enough to stop Millwall falling to bottom spot in the Championship. Plymouth went ahead from their first meaningful move, Vincent Pericard heading home Paul Connolly's corner. Alan Dunne almost brought the hosts level when his header was saved, before 18-year-old Williams did so with a brave header from close range. Marvin Elliott came close to a winner for the hosts, but the game drifted to a draw to leave Millwall on the brink. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Millwall caretaker manager David Tuttle: "It's finished now, and we are relegated, the task now is to prepare for next season and League One. "It's sad a club like Millwall will be fighting in League One, but we need to be prepared as we can't afford to drop through another division. "Everyone needs to look themselves in the eye but I won't be the manager." Plymouth boss Tony Pulis: "It's nice for Plymouth to come to a place like this and not be satisfied with a point. "I don't want to do my own lads an injustice but Millwall had it all to play for and they showed great grit and determination today. "We confirmed our Championship status a while ago and are on the up." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Millwall: Doyle, Lawrence, Phillips, Whitbread, Elliott, Dunne (Cogan 76), Livermore, Williams, Craig, Asaba (Powel 42), May. Subs Not Used: Marshall, Vincent, Braniff. Booked: Williams. Goals: Williams 31. Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly, Doumbe, Aljofree, Hodges, Norris, Nalis, Wotton, Capaldi (Buzsaky 60), Clarke (Evans 64), Pericard (Pulis 79). Subs Not Used: McCormick, Chadwick. Booked: Wotton, Pulis. Goals: Pericard 10. Att: 9,183 Ref: P Walton (Northamptonshire).

Leicester v Plymouth
Leicester defender Patrick Kisnorbo is banned, but fellow centre-half Paddy McCarthy has made a timely return after completing his own suspension. Stephen Hughes (ankle) and Rab Douglas (shoulder) will both feature despite carrying injuries. Plymouth manager Tony Pulis must decide between Romain Larrieu and Luke McCormick to go in goal at Leicester. Midfielder Luke Summerfield, defender Scott Laird and strikers Chris Zebroski and Reuben Reid may all play some part.

Pilgrims physio is punished by FA
Plymouth physio Paul Maxwell has been punished by the Football Association after using abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official. Maxwell has been handed a two-match suspension from all matchday involvement, and fined £100. The suspension will commence at the start of the 2006/07 season. The breach of FA rule E3 - which Maxwell had admitted - took place at Argyle's 1-0 defeat against Cardiff at Home Park on 18 March.

Leicester 1-0 Plymouth
Matt Fryatt's second-half header was enough to beat battling Plymouth. Leicester edged a dour first half but were restricted to a couple of long-range efforts which failed to trouble Argyle keeper Romain Larrieu. Richard Stearman sent a header just wide for the home side after the break before Fryatt nodded in the winner from Andrew Welsh's cross. Tony Capaldi had Plymouth's best chance but saw his 25-yard free-kick superbly saved by Foxes keeper Paul Henderson. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leicester boss Rob Kelly: "It will be very tough for us next season because the parachute money will have gone. We will have to be prudent and creative to go forward. "I would be foolish to make predictions about top-six. We will work hard to maintain our ethos, spirit and ability. "As for goalscorer Matty Fryatt, he sets a great example to any youngster." Plymouth manager Tony Pulis: "Paul Connolly should have stopped the cross coming in and Lee Hodges was flat at the far post to let in Matty Fryatt for the goal. "I am disappointed to lose. Vincent Pericard had two chances in the second half and he missed both and then Fryatt scores from just one chance. "We had a right go here but that little bit of quality was all the difference." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Leicester: Henderson, Stearman, Johansson, McCarthy, Maybury, Hughes, Gudjonsson, Williams, Welsh (Tiatto 78), Hume, Fryatt (O'Grady 82). Subs Not Used: Douglas, Sylla, Gerrbrand. Booked: Stearman. Goals: Fryatt 55. Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly (Pulis 63), Doumbe, Aljofree, Hodges (Buzsaky 62), Norris, Wotton, Nalis, Capaldi, Clarke (Chadwick 54), Pericard. Subs Not Used: McCormick, Reid. Att: 22,796. Ref: P Joslin (Nottinghamshire).

Hodges agrees new deal at Argyle
Plymouth utility man Lee Hodges has committed his future to the Pilgrims for another season, after recovering from a career-threatening injury. The 32-year-old spent 12 months on the sidelines with a back problem between January 2005 and January 2006. Chief executive Michael Dunford told the club website: "Lee has come in today and we have agreed a new one-year deal with him, which is good news." Hodges joined Argyle on a free transfer from Reading in the summer of 2001.

Plymouth v Ipswich
Plymouth striker Micky Evans is poised to make his farewell appearance after announcing his decision to leave the Pilgrims at the end of the season. Nick Chadwick (ear infection) and defender Mat Doumbe (bruised foot) are Argyle's only injury doubts. Sam Parkin could return for Ipswich after recovering from a broken ankle, a cracked rib rules Fabian Wilnis out. Owen Garvan and Matt Richards are out, so Sito Castro could be included despite being transfer-listed.

Norris may extend Pilgrims' stay
Plymouth midfielder David Norris is set to commit his long-term future to the Championship outfit. The 25-year-old still has 14 months to run on his current deal, but has been offered an extension until June 2009. Norris told the Herald: "The club seems to be heading in the right direction since they brought the new manager Tony Pulis in. "Things are slowly getting to where they should be. As long as we keep going forward, I'm happy this way."

Plymouth 2-1 Ipswich
Micky Evans ended his Plymouth career in style after hitting the winner on his farewell appearance for the club. Evans scored his first goal in 37 matches early in the second half after heading home when Vincent Pericard headed on Tony Capaldi's free-kick. Nicky Forster had put Ipswich ahead by heading in Chris Casement's cross for his fourth goal in four games. Evans set up Capaldi to level before winning a game which left Ipswich in 15th - their lowest finish since 1966. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth manager Tony Pulis: "The script could not have been written any better. It was a great goal, a great day for Micky and for us as a club. "It was important to finish with a win - three-and-a-half months is a long time to dwell on a loss. "I was delighted with the win - and yet again I felt we could have had more goals really." Ipswich manager Joe Royle: "I am angry. The performance was just not good enough and I expected more, especialy after we took the lead. "I am disappointed for our fans, who have travelled a long way to see this. "But we have got three or four out and we did not match Plymouth physically. We needed more strength and the players like Alan Lee give us that." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plymouth: Larrieu, Connolly, Wotton, Aljofree, Hodges, Norris, Buzsaky (Pulis 78), Nalis, Capaldi, Pericard (Reid 78), Evans (Chadwick 78). Subs Not Used: McCormick, Barness. Booked: Nalis. Goals: Capaldi 28, Evans 57. Ipswich: Supple, Casement, De Vos, Naylor, McEveley, Peters, Brekke-Skard (Parkin 53), Garvan (Magilton 60), Westlake (Trotter 80), Currie, Forster. Subs Not Used: Price, Krause. Booked: Naylor, De Vos. Goals: Forster 12. Att: 15,921. Ref: B Curson (Leicestershire). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Play-off semi-final dates: First legs Leeds v Preston (Elland Road, Friday, 5 May, 1945 BST) Crystal Palace v Watford (Selhurst Park, Saturday, 6 May, 1215 BST) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Second legs Preston v Leeds (Deepdale, Monday, 8 May, 1945 BST) Watford v Crystal Palace (Vicarage Road, Tuesday 9 May, 1945 BST) Play-off dates for other divisions to be confirmed

Doumbe delight at Plymouth deal
Plymouth Argyle defender Mathias Doumbe has agreed a new two-year contract to stay at Home Park. The 26-year-old has been a regular in the Argyle side and made 43 appearances last season. "I'm delighted. We have been talking about it for a good part of the season," said the Frenchman. "Last season, I was a new player in the team and I didn't play straight away, so this season I wanted to settle. I was really happy this season." Doumbe's previous contract was due to expire this summer and he has committed himself to Argyle until the summer of 2008. And boss Tony Pulis told the Plymouth Evening Herald: "He had a fantastic end to the season. He's still young and has a lot of assets. "I'm not saying he has reached his full potential by any means. There is still room for improvement, but this is very good news for the football club."

Stoke rebuffed in Pulis approach
Plymouth have rejected an approach from Stoke City for permission to speak to Argyle boss Tony Pulis. The Welshman had previously managed Stoke between November 2002 and June 2005 - before taking over at Home Park in September 2005. The Potters have been searching for a boss since Johan Boskamp's departure. "I have received a request from Stoke for permission to talk to our manager. That has not been granted," Argyle chairman Paul Stapleton said. "No-one at the club will make a further comment on this situation until and unless circumstances change." Pulis has also managed Bournemouth, Gillingham, Bristol City and Portsmouth. Stoke's approach follows the recent takeover of the Staffordshire club by a consortium headed by chairman Peter Coates, who has become chairman for a second time. Coates' consortium bought the majority shareholding of the Potters' former Icelandic owners, who had sacked Pulis in June 2005 - but their search for a replacement for Boskamp must continue. Coates added: "This approach has been refused, and the club has no further comment to make at this time."

Pulis confirmed as Stoke manager
Stoke City have confirmed that Plymouth boss Tony Pulis will be their new manager, and will be unveiled at a news conference on Friday, 16 June. He replaces Johan Boskamp, who left City at the end of last season. The Potters agreed compensation with Plymouth, and Pulis has agreed personal terms to make a return to the club who sacked him almost a year ago. Pulis managed Stoke between November 2002 and June 2005, before taking over at Home Park in September 2005. He has also managed Bournemouth, Gillingham, Bristol City and Portsmouth - and new chairman Peter Coates has defended his re-appointment. \"I am fully aware some supporters have been publicly voicing their opposition to the return of Tony, who was our manager for two-and-a-half years before being sacked by the club's previous owners in June,\" Coates said. \"It is difficult to make an appointment which will be universally accepted. \"The board have discussed and enquired about several managers over the past few weeks, and we are all agreed that the best candidate is Tony Pulis. \"Tony has a reputation for playing a direct style of football. But in our league, is a direct style of play necessarily such a bad thing? \"As we saw in the season just ended, Watford and Sheffield United were promoted playing direct football. \"Tony wants to come back because he truly believes he can bring the club success, and I am absolutely convinced he can. \"I did not make a recent £10m investment in the club for us to remain a mid-table Championship side.\" Meanwhile, Plymouth announced in a statement that they were \"naturally disappointed that Tony Pulis has chosen to leave the club when it is on the brink of a most exciting era\". The statement continued: \"However, given Tony's obvious desire to return to Stoke, it would have been not only churlish to stand in his way, but also counter-productive to the needs of our club at this vital time of the year. \"The process of identifying (a successor) with the right credentials has already begun.\"

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