Second and third divisions
Argyle coping admirably with being out on a limb as Doncaster draw the crowds
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Your support makes all the difference.West country living may have its attractions for stressed-out rat racers but for the footballers of Plymouth Argyle, proudly looking down today from the top of the Second Division, a home away from the hubbub of metropolitan life means a bigger workload.
Argyle's geographical location dictates that almost every away fixture involves long motorway journeys and while a run of just one defeat in 14 makes them favourites to beat Blackpool at Home Park this afternoon, manager Paul Sturrock will be checking for travel weariness after the wins at Port Vale and Sheffield Wednesday that hoisted his side to the top.
The former Scotland striker's standing in the game has ensured that his own achievements have been given proper recognition but Sturrock feels his players sometimes miss out because of being out on a limb. "I don't think they get as much hype as other players," he said. "It's something to do with the geography of this part of the world, so I'm pleased that we are getting the television stations coming along. They deserve it with their attitude and workrate."
Overdue attention is also being heaped on Doncaster Rovers after the promoted club's impressive return to League football. Rovers travel to Kidderminster - where Jan Molby is back at the helm - as the Third Division's in-form team, Tuesday's 2-1 win over Rochdale their fifth straight.
Last Saturday's 4-2 defeat of Mansfield had attracted 8,500 to Belle Vue, the club's biggest home crowd for 20 years, and Rochdale manager Alan Buckley, admitting that the scoreline could have been 8-1, said: "Doncaster are as good as any team we have played, including Hull."
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