Houghton wants Argyle to build on foundations

MIDFIELDER Jordan Houghton is expecting a gradual progression from Plymouth Argyle throughout the 2024/25 season after a summer of change at Home Park.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

Wayne Rooney has taken over as head coach, joined by Pete Shuttleworth as his assistant, while 22-yearold Hungarian defender Kornel Szucs became the Pilgrims’ sixth new signing on Monday night, with their 2024/25 Championship campaign starting away to Sheffield Wednesday this Sunday.

Rooney is going to put a lot of emphasis on the intensity that Argyle play at this term, and there was evidence that will take a little time to adjust to in their final preseason game, the 1-0 victory over MK Dons on Saturday.

League Two side MK Dons had plenty of the possession in the first half but it was a different story in the second period as Argyle played with a much better tempo, and their pressing of the ball paid off when substitute Ryan Hardie scored the only goal of the game as an attempted clearance from goalkeeper Tom McGill rebounded off him into the net.

Houghton told Herald Sport: “I think our foundation needs to be a high intensity. When we come away from that and we are a little bit passive I think that plays into other team’s hands and doesn’t play into our hands basically.

“That was the main difference from the first half to the second half (against MK Dons). Not that they caused us too many problems in the first half, but there was too many patterns of play for them and a bit too much time on the ball. The intensity of our effort and our press in the second half was epitomised by Ryan’s goal.