Steven Schumacher spells out tough test for Plymouth Argyle at Watford

Steven Schumacher knows the size of the task that Plymouth Argyle will face against Watford at Vicarage Road tomorrow but has declared: “It’s what we wanted to get to the Championship for.”

Watford have been in and out of the Premier League over recent seasons and they began the 2023/24 Championship campaign with an impressive 4-0 home victory over Queens Park Rangers last Saturday, with all their goals coming in the first half.

New boss Valerien Ismael has a multi-national, talented squad squad with players from as far afield as Brazil, Chile, Ivory Coast and Morocco.

Schumacher said: “They are a top club, Vicarage Road is a brilliant stadium. They have been in and out of the Premier League over the last few years.

“The challenge ahead of us is going to be a tough one. They were brilliant on Saturday against QPR, got off to a really good start, so we know we are in for a tough test.”

He continued: “That’s what we are going to face the majority of the games this season. They are going to have players who have got huge strengths all over the pitch.

“If they make changes the people who will replace them will also be pretty good. It’s going to be a tough game but we are excited and it’s what we wanted to get to the Championship for.”

Like Argyle have been doing so far this season, Watford lined up in a 4-3-3 formation against QPR with Ken Sema, Vakoun Bayo and Matheus forming a very lively trio up front.

Schumacher said: “The forward players have got so much speed and power. The midfield players have got really good movement – their first goal (against QPR) was a great goal with a late run from midfield.

“The two centre-backs (Will Hoedt and Ryan Porteous) look as though they are really comfortable on the ball. The goalkeeper (Daniel Bachmann) becomes an extra defender when they are in possession, so we are going to have to be organised and solid as a team.”

Argyle go to Vicarage Road on a remarkable run of eight successive wins since they lost 2-0 to Lincoln City at Home Park on April 10.

Six of those victories came at the end of last season while the latter two have been this term, 3-1 against Huddersfield Town in their Championship season-opener last Saturday and 2-0 against Leyton Orient in the Carabao Cup first round on Tuesday night.

Schumacher said: “We are in good form. The first two games of this season have gone really well, and we finished so strong at the back end of last season.

“Obviously, there has been a lot of change in the squad since then but that momentum is good and having that winning habit is important.

“We will go to Watford with a game plan, we know it’s going to be hard, but we have got to go there with confidence and belief otherwise there is no point turning up.”

Schumacher made 10 changes to his team against Orient from the victory over Huddersfield so 21 different players have started a game at the start of this season and it leaves him with ‘a few tough decisions’ when it comes to Argyle’s line-up at Watford.

He said: “It was really important we freshened the team up because Saturday took a lot out of everybody. The distances the players covered on Saturday was huge, as was the distance on Tuesday the lads covered.

“It’s what you put a squad together for because it’s not possible for the same 11 to play that level of intensity every single week.

“Our squad is strong, the lads who played on Tuesday all did excellent, as did the lads who played on Saturday so it’s going to be a few tough decisions.”

Meanwhile, Schumacher has welcomed the Carabao Cup second round home draw against Premier League club Crystal Palace, which will take place on the week commencing August 28.