Plymouth Argyle competed in the Football League Championship in the 2005–06 season, having finished 17th place in the season prior. They underwent a change in their manager, replacing Bobby Williamson with Tony Pulis in the hope of seeing an improvement to the previous season. The "Green Army" finished 14th in the league and made it to the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

Season summary After a poor start to the season, which made relegation a likely outcome, Argyle fired manager Bobby Williamson and brought in Tony Pulis. Argyle regrouped under Pulis and regained a solid place in the middle of the league standings. The team's performance was one of contrasts. Argyle conceded only 46 goals, which made it the fifth (tied) best defense in the league although they only scored 39 goals, which made it the third (tied) worst attack in the league. It meant a lot of 0–0, 1–0, and 0–1 games – results that are synonymous with Pulis' style of football. However, under new manager Pulis, Argyle were never in any significant danger of relegation.

Notable events In August, Argyle opens the season by defeating Reading 2–1 at the Madejski Stadium. It would be Reading's only home loss in the Championship all season. Victory at Reading is followed by a draw and four losses in the Championship. 6–23 September, manager Bobby Williamson is fired. Jocky Scott is named caretaker manager. Tony Pulis is named as the new manager. September–October, Pulis's first shores up the Argyle defence and achieves a record of one win, one loss, and five draws in first seven games under his management. 22 November – 18 February, young central defender Elliott Ward comes to Argyle on loan from West Ham. He stays for three months and proves successful on the field and popular with the fans. In 15 games with Ward, Argyle concede only 15 goals and achieve a record of 6 wins, 5 draws, and four losses in the Championship. Argyle move up to mid-table and while not safe from relegation, it seems very unlikely. 18 February, striker Vincent Pericard, on loan from Portsmouth, scores a hat trick against Coventry City in a 3–1 victory. This was the biggest win of the season by low-scoring Argyle.

Squad Squad at end of season

Left the club during season

Transfers

Out DatePlayerTransferToFeeSourceJune 2005Matthew VillisSaleTorquay United£0July 2005Gary SawyerSeason-long loanExeter CityN/AJuly 2005Graham CoughlanSaleSheffield Wednesday£100,000July 2005Peter GilbertSaleLeicester City£200,0006 October 2005Taribo WestReleasedFree AgentN/AJanuary 2006Matt DerbyshireRecalled from loanBlackburn RoversN/AJanuary 2006Jason JarrettRecalled from loanNorwich CityN/A17 January 2006Scott TaylorSaleMilton Keynes Dons£100,00031 January 2006Nuno MendesReleasedFree AgentN/A31 January 2006Bjarni GuðjónssonReleasedFree agentN/AFebruary 2006Keith LasleyShort-term loanBlackpoolN/AFebruary 2006Elliott WardRecalled from loanWest Ham UnitedN/A27 February 2006Rufus BrevettShort-term loanLeicester CityN/AJune 2006Rufus BrevettReleasedFree agentN/AJune 2006Keith LasleyReleasedBlackpoolN/A

In DatePlayerTransferFromFee18 May 2005Ákos BuzsákyBuyF.C. Porto£250,00031 May 2005Bojan DjordjicBuyRangers£015 June 2005Anthony BarnessBuyBolton Wanderers£05 July 2005Taribo WestBuyAl-Arabi£019 July 2005Nuno MendesBuyCD Santa Clara£0July 2005Rufus BrevettBuyWest Ham United£0August 2005Matt DerbyshireSeason LoanBlackburn RoversN/A22 November 2005Elliott WardShort Term LoanWest Ham UnitedN/A24 November 2005Jason JarrettShort Term LoanNorwich CityN/A13 January 2006Lilian NalisBuySheffield United£010 February 2006Vincent PéricardShort-term loanPortsmouthN/A

Competitions Championship

League table

Results + Championship match detailsDateOpponentVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendance6 August 2005ReadingAwayW2–1 9 August 2005WatfordHomeD3–3 13 August 2005Derby CountyHomeL0–2 20 August 2005Crystal PalaceAwayL0–1 27 August 2005Hull CityHomeL0–1 29 August 2005Brighton & Hove AlbionAwayL0–2 10 September 2005Norwich CityAwayL0–2 23,98113 September 2005Crewe AlexandraHomeD1–1Taylor 12'10,46017 September 2005BurnleyHomeW1–0Evans 46'11,82924 September 2005SouthamptonAwayD0–0 26,33127 September 2005Sheffield UnitedAwayL0–2 20,1111 October 2005Stoke CityHomeW2–1Russell 50 og, Buzsaky 7712,60415 October 2005Sheffield WednesdayHomeD1–1Wotton 79 pen16,53418 October 2005Queens Park RangersAwayD1–1Buzsaky 39'11,74122 October 2005Luton TownAwayD1–1Djordjic 90'8,71430 October 2005MillwallHomeD0–0 11,7645 November 2005Ipswich TownAwayL1–3Buzsaky 51'23,08319 November 2005Queens Park RangersHomeW3–1Wotton 7 pen, Doumbe 37, Chadwick 51'13,21322 November 2005Sheffield WednesdayAwayD0–0 20,24426 November 2005ReadingHomeL0–2 14,0203 December 2005Coventry CityAwayL1–3Norris 25'18,79610 December 2005WatfordAwayD1–1Chadwick 48'12,88417 December 2005Crystal PalaceHomeW2–0 26 December 2005Cardiff CityAwayW2–0 31 December 2005Wolverhampton WanderersAwayD1–1 2 January 2006Leeds UnitedHomeL0–3 14 January 2006Norwich CityHomeD1–1 21 January 2006Crewe AlexandraAwayW2–1 24 January 2006Leicester CityHomeW1–0 31 January 2006SouthamptonHomeW2–1 4 February 2006BurnleyAwayL0–1 11 February 2006Sheffield UnitedHomeD0–0 14 February 2006Stoke CityAwayD0–0 18 February 2006Coventry CityHomeW3–1 25 February 2006Derby CountyAwayL0–1 4 March 2006Brighton & Hove AlbionHomeW1–0 7 March 2006Preston North EndHomeD0–0 11 March 2006Hull CityAwayL0–1 18 March 2006Cardiff CityHomeL0–1 25 March 2006Preston North EndAwayD0–0 1 April 2006Wolverhampton WanderersHomeW2–0 8 April 2006Leeds UnitedAwayD0–0 15 April 2006MillwallAwayD1–1 17 April 2006Luton TownHomeL1–2 22 April 2006Leicester CityAwayL0–1 30 April 2006Ipswich TownHomeW2–1

FA Cup

+ FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceThird round7 January 2006Wolverhampton WanderersAwayL0–111,041

League Cup

+ League Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreF–AScorersAttendanceFirst round23 August 2005Peterborough UnitedHomeW2–1Wotton 35' pen., Taylor 38'5,974Second round20 September 2005BarnetAwayL1–2Buzsaky 19'1,941

Notes

References