It’s fair to say that Plymouth Argyle have realised their preseason ambition to present a more competitive and accurate representation of themselves from the very start of the new season, compared to their first campaign under Tom Cleverley. Following Saturday’s statement 3-0 dispatching of Barnsley, the Pilgrims find themselves sitting pretty in the League One play-off positions for the very first time under the 37-year-old’s tutelage.

The Greens boss has acknowledged that while “no trophies are handed out for being in the top six in September,” he nonetheless emphasised the significance of the moment given all that has gone before. After turning into a real force to be reckoned with back in early 2026, Argyle have put together a much brighter start to bank early points and put themselves right in the mix.

Ultimately, it was a desperately sluggish start to their last League One campaign that cost them a shot at promotion, but amassing seven more points at this season’s six-game mark compared to the same stage last term proves that serious lessons have been learnt at Home Park. This scale of improvement is fueling genuine, albeit cautious, optimism among the Green Army, especially now that the transfer window is firmly behind them and the remaining squad’s focus can be solely on the football.

Results have provided a mixed bag, with early defeats to Stockport County and Leicester City keeping the Green Army grounded, evened out by some clinical displays at Home Park and on the road. But all in all, Argyle have managed to carry the majority of that powerful momentum from before the summer right through to now.

Defensive Foundations Driving Plymouth Argyle’s Stronger Start

A massive boost for Cleverley this time around has been the continuity of his backline, with the core group of defenders that finished reuniting from the first day of pre-season, bolstered by the feel-good factor generated by Alex Mitchell’s sensational return to Devon.

Competition for spots in the heart of the Plymouth Argyle backline has been a massive boost, with a fully fit Julio Pleguezuelo finally getting a run of games in which to shine, reaping the rewards with some colossal performances.

Furthermore, the club successfully addressed their primary objective of securing a new number one, with Murphy Cooper’s decisive displays as a sweeper-keeper already winning over the fans. The stopper that is proving to be a bargain at £150,000 has already come up trumps for the team at critical moments, backing himself to relieve pressure by coming to deal with dangerous set-piece deliveries.

The uncertainty that plagued Argyle last season, when they started with centre-backs whose futures were in limbo, cost them dearly, but the situation is now starkly different. The constant rotation of goalkeepers due to injury previously sowed confusion, but Cooper’s consistency has provided a much-needed remedy for that instability.

The mutual trust between Ross, Mitchell, and Pleguezuelo has created a far more secure defensive unit, while the healthy competition for a starting berth is arguably bringing out the best in all three. This newfound defensive bedrock has transformed Argyle into an entertaining watch, with the wingers and full backs granted the freedom to attack with greater abandon.

Battle-Hardened And Ready For The Fight

A defining theme of the opening month has been Bim Pepple’s immense physicality, with third-tier defenders resorting to wrestling tactics to keep him quiet. His goal against Barnsley saw the Canadian provide the perfect demonstration of how to spin a combative, over-eager centre-back before crowning the move with a brilliant solo strike.

Though he’s clearly been left frustrated at times by the constant close attention, Pepple has stayed locked in on holding up the ball and bringing willing runners like Caleb Watts and his new strike partner, Will Evans, into the game high up the pitch.

Tom Cleverley has drilled it into his squad’s DNA to play their hearts out for the raucous traveling fans, a commitment that paid off last season with a staggering 12 away wins amassed—a record bettered only by champions Lincoln City. Early signs suggest that shrewdness on the road is set to continue, as the recent victory at Doncaster Rovers was about as clinical an away performance as you’re ever likely to see.

Despite a promising opening six weeks, there is plenty of room for improvement within a hungry yet admittedly threadbare squad that remains vulnerable to the constant threat of injuries. Understandable concern emerged regarding the central midfield options when stand-in captain Malachi Boateng sustained a long-term injury just days after the club sold his natural replacement, Brendan Wiredu, to Salford City.

But Cleverley proved he has what it takes to overcome injury turmoil last season as his side defied the odds to reach the brink of the play-offs. He has turned to seasoned EFL midfielder Tyreeq Bakinson, who has slotted seamlessly back into life in Devon six years after his first stint at Argyle, providing the necessary bite in the middle of the park alongside summer marquee signing Harvey White.

Oliver Irow Providing A Spark

This modern Argyle have long thrived by taking on high-quality loanees like Morgan Whittaker and Finn Azaz, who eventually became permanent, and then profitable fixtures at Home Park. This season, however, the club has relied less on the loan market, with the one thrilling exception being Tottenham Hotspur winger Oliver Irow.

The 20-year-old’s hunger to improve gives him a remarkably high ceiling, and with Home Park proving an ideal breeding ground for ambitious talent, the immediate future looks bright. He has already impressed by carving out space on the left flank and showcasing his deadly end product, not least with his 30-yard thunderbolt against the Tykes and a debut goal against Premier League opposition in Coventry City in the EFL Cup.

The former England Under-17 international has demonstrated maturity beyond his years, both through his composed performances on the pitch and his articulate presence during media duties since arriving. Irow told Plymouth Live he plans to contribute plenty more goals in a statement of intent sure to whet the supporters’ appetites.

“I think that’s one of my main strengths, scoring goals. Hopefully there are many more to come. It’s something I work on every day to make it one of my best attributes.”

He clearly has his manager’s full backing, with Cleverley hailing him as his “X-factor player” and describing his maiden league goal for the club as the finest he has ever witnessed at Home Park.

With three wins in their last four league outings, it is reasonable to suggest that Tom Cleverley has finally identified the match day squad capable of mounting a serious challenge at the very top of League One this season.