# 2023–24 Plymouth Argyle F.C. season

The 2023–24 season was the 138th season in the history of Plymouth Argyle and their first season back in the Championship since the 2009–10 season following their promotion from League One the season before. The club participated in the Championship, the FA Cup, and the EFL Cup.
Plymouth secured survival on 4 May 2024, the final day of the season, by virtue of beating play-off chasing Hull City 1–0 at Home Park.

## First-team Squad

    As of 27 March 2024
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Previous club | Fee | Contract end |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||
| 1 | Michael Cooper | GK | (1999-10-08) 8 October 1999 (age 25) | Academy | Trainee | 30 June 2025 |
| 21 | Conor Hazard | GK | (1998-03-05) 5 March 1998 (age 26) | Celtic | £150,000 | 30 June 2026 |
| 25 | Callum Burton | GK | (1996-08-15) 15 August 1996 (age 28) | Cambridge United | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| Defenders ||||||||
| 2 | Bali Mumba | DF | (2001-10-08) 8 October 2001 (age 23) | Norwich City | 1m | 30 June 2027 |
| 3 | Lino Sousa | DF | (2005-01-19) 19 January 2005 (age 20) | Aston Villa | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 5 | Julio Pleguezuelo | DF | (1997-01-26) 26 January 1997 (age 28) | FC Twente | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 6 | Dan Scarr | DF | (1994-12-24) 24 December 1994 (age 30) | Walsall | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 17 | Lewis Gibson | DF | (2000-07-19) 19 July 2000 (age 24) | Everton | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 22 | Brendan Galloway | DF | (1996-03-17) 17 March 1996 (age 28) | Luton Town | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 31 | Oscar Halls | DF | (2006-01-19) 19 January 2006 (age 19) | Academy | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 26 | Ashley Phillips | DF | (2005-06-26) 26 June 2005 (age 19) | Tottenham Hotspur | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 29 | Matthew Sorinola | DF | (2001-02-19) 19 February 2001 (age 23) | Union Saint-Gilloise | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| Midfielders ||||||||
| 4 | Jordan Houghton | MF | (1995-11-05) 5 November 1995 (age 29) | Milton Keynes Dons | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 8 | Joe Edwards | MF | (1990-10-31) 31 October 1990 (age 34) | Walsall | Free | 30 June 2025 |
| 11 | Callum Wright | MF | (2000-05-02) 2 May 2000 (age 24) | Blackpool | Undisclosed | 30 June 2026 |
| 16 | Alfie Devine | MF | (2004-08-01) 1 August 2004 (age 20) | Tottenham Hotspur | Loan | 31 May 2024 |
| 20 | Adam Randell | MF | (2000-10-01) 1 October 2000 (age 24) | Academy | Trainee | 30 June 2026 |
| 27 | Adam Forshaw | MF | (1991-10-08) 8 October 1991 (age 33) | Norwich City | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 34 | Caleb Roberts | MF | (2005-10-24) 24 October 2005 (age 19) | Academy | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 37 | Jack Matthews | MF | | Academy | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| Forwards ||||||||
| 9 | Ryan Hardie | FW | (1997-03-17) 17 March 1997 (age 27) | Blackpool | Undisclosed | 30 June 2026 |
| 10 | Morgan Whittaker | FW | (2001-01-07) 7 January 2001 (age 24) | Swansea City | 1 million | 30 June 2027 |
| 14 | Mickel Miller | FW | (1995-12-02) 2 December 1995 (age 29) | Rotherham United | Free | 30 June 2024 |
| 15 | Mustapha Bundu | FW | (1997-02-28) 28 February 1997 (age 27) | Anderlecht | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 23 | Ben Waine | FW | (2001-06-11) 11 June 2001 (age 23) | Wellington Phoenix | Undisclosed | 30 June 2025 |
| 35 | Freddie Issaka | FW | (2006-07-28) 28 July 2006 (age 18) | Truro City | Undisclosed | 30 June 2026 |
| Out on Loan ||||||||
| 19 | Tyreik Wright | FW | (2001-09-22) 22 September 2001 (age 23) | Aston Villa | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 24 | Saxon Earley | DF | (2002-10-11) 11 October 2002 (age 22) | Norwich City | Undisclosed | 30 June 2024 |
| 30 | Jack Endacott | DF | (2004-11-01) 1 November 2004 (age 20) | Academy | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 32 | Will Jenkins-Davies | MF | (2004-10-22) 22 October 2004 (age 20) | Academy | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |
| 33 | Zak Baker | GK | (2004-11-19) 19 November 2004 (age 20) | Academy | Trainee | 30 June 2024 |

## Statistics

    As of 24 September 2023
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Michael Cooper | 9 | 0 | 9+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Bali Mumba | 21 | 2 | 18+2 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Macaulay Gillesphey | 3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Jordan Houghton | 21 | 0 | 18+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | ESP | Julio Pleguezuelo | 16 | 0 | 10+4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Dan Scarr | 19 | 1 | 16+2 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Matt Butcher | 15 | 0 | 2+11 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Joe Edwards | 16 | 1 | 13+3 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | SCO | Ryan Hardie | 18 | 6 | 13+3 | 6 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Morgan Whittaker | 22 | 8 | 20+1 | 8 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Callum Wright | 14 | 0 | 4+8 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 14 | FW | ENG | Mickel Miller | 15 | 0 | 6+8 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 15 | FW | SLE | Mustapha Bundu | 12 | 2 | 3+9 | 2 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | ENG | Lewis Warrington* | 4 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Lewis Gibson | 18 | 0 | 18+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | IRL | Finn Azaz | 22 | 4 | 16+4 | 4 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | IRL | Tyreik Wright | 6 | 0 | 1+4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Adam Randell | 21 | 3 | 13+7 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 21 | GK | NIR | Conor Hazard | 12 | 0 | 12+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | ZIM | Brendan Galloway | 5 | 0 | 2+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
| 23 | FW | NZL | Ben Waine | 15 | 4 | 4+9 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 3 |
| 24 | DF | ENG | Saxon Earley | 2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 25 | GK | ENG | Callum Burton | 2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Luke Cundle* | 21 | 4 | 11+8 | 3 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Kaine Kesler-Hayden* | 21 | 0 | 16+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | ENG | Caleb Roberts | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 35 | FW | WAL | Freddie Issaka | 4 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |

### Goals record

    As of 24 September 2023
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Total |
| 1 | 10 | | FW | Morgan Whittaker | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | 9 | | FW | Ryan Hardie | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 3 | 18 | | MF | Finn Azaz | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | 23 | | FW | Ben Waine | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | 28 | | MF | Luke Cundle | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 6 | 20 | | MF | Adam Randell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | 2 | | DF | Bali Mumba | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | 15 | | FW | Mustapha Bundu | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 9 | 6 | | DF | Dan Scarr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 9 | 8 | | DF | Joe Edwards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 30 | 0 | 4 | 34 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of 24 September 2023
| Rank | No. | Nat. | Po. | Name | Championship | Championship | Championship | FA Cup | FA Cup | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Cup | Total | Total | Total |
| 1 | 6 | | DF | Dan Scarr | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| 1 | 14 | | FW | Mickel Miller | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 2 | | DF | Bali Mumba | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 4 | | MF | Jordan Houghton | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 28 | | MF | Luke Cundle | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | 29 | | DF | Kaine Kesler-Hayden | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | 10 | | FW | Morgan Whittaker | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | 17 | | DF | Lewis Gibson | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | 20 | | MF | Adam Randell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 5 | | DF | Julio Pleguezuelo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 9 | | FW | Ryan Hardie | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 18 | | MF | Finn Azaz | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 1 | | GK | Michael Cooper | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 7 | | MF | Matt Butcher | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | 8 | | DF | Joe Edwards | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | 21 | | GK | Conor Hazard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | 22 | | DF | Brendan Galloway | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 46 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 1 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred from | Fee |
| 1 July 2023 | CB | Julio Pleguezuelo | FC Twente | Free Transfer |
| 3 July 2023 | CB | Lewis Gibson | Everton | Free Transfer |
| 11 July 2023 | GK | Conor Hazard | Celtic | Undisclosed |
| 17 July 2023 | RW | Morgan Whittaker | Swansea City | £1,000,000 |
| 21 July 2023 | RB | Bali Mumba | Norwich City | £1,000,000 |
| 1 September 2023 | RW | Mustapha Bundu | Anderlecht | Undisclosed |
| 17 January 2024 | LB | Matthew Sorinola | Union Saint-Gilloise | Free Transfer |
| 19 January 2024 | CM | Adam Forshaw | Norwich City | Free Transfer |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Player | Transferred to | Fee |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | James Bolton | St Mirren | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | RB | Finley Craske | Torquay United | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Niall Ennis | Blackburn Rovers | Free Transfer |
| 30 June 2023 | DM | Jeffrey Forkuo | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Conor Grant | Port Vale | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CF | Luke Jephcott | St Johnstone | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | LB | Ryan Law | Truro City | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CM | Danny Mayor | Fleetwood Town | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | James Morley | Dobwalls | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | GK | Adam Parkes | Plymouth Parkway | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | DF | Sam N'Sapu | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | Brandon Pursall | Free agent | Released |
| 30 June 2023 | CB | James Wilson | Bristol Rovers | Released |
| 12 January 2024 | CB | Macaulay Gillesphey | Charlton Athletic | Undisclosed |
| 31 January 2024 | DM | Matt Butcher | Wycombe Wanderers | Mutual Consent |

### Loaned in

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned from | Fee |
| 1 July 2023 | RB | Kaine Kesler-Hayden | Aston Villa | 14 January 2024 |
| 26 July 2023 | CM | Lewis Warrington | Everton | 14 January 2024 |
| 2 August 2023 | AM | Finn Azaz | Aston Villa | 3 January 2024 |
| 7 August 2023 | CM | Luke Cundle | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 7 January 2024 |
| 8 January 2024 | CB | Ashley Phillips | Tottenham Hotspur | End of Season |
| 11 January 2024 | CM | Darko Gyabi | Leeds United | 27 March 2024 |
| 17 January 2024 | AM | Alfie Devine | Tottenham Hotspur | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | LB | Lino Sousa | Aston Villa | End of Season |
* ↑ On 14 January, Kesler-Hayden was recalled back to Aston Villa from his season-long loan early.
* ↑ On 14 January, Warrington returned back to Everton from his season-long loan early due to injury.
* ↑ On 3 January, Azaz was recalled back to Aston Villa from his season-long loan early.
* ↑ On 7 January, Cundle was recalled back to Wolves from his season-long loan early.
* ↑ On 27 March, Gyabi's loan from Leeds was cut short due to a groin injury.

### Loaned out

| Date | Pos | Player | Loaned to | Until |
| 21 July 2023 | CM | Will Jenkins-Davies | Torquay United | End of Season |
| 26 July 2023 | CB | Oscar Halls | Plymouth Parkway | 26 October 2023 |
| 2 August 2023 | LB | Jack Endacott | Tiverton Town | 7 October 2023 |
| 7 October 2023 | LB | Jack Endacott | Tavistock | 4 November 2023 |
| 9 November 2023 | GK | Zak Baker | Tiverton Town | 7 December 2023 |
| 15 January 2024 | RW | Tyreik Wright | Bradford City | End of Season |
| 1 February 2024 | LB | Saxon Earley | Wycombe Wanderers | End of Season |

## Pre-season and friendlies

On June 7, Plymouth Argyle announced their pre-season schedule, with friendlies against Plymouth Parkway, Torquay United, Forest Green Rovers, Salford City and Swindon Town. A week later, a trip to Spain to face Scottish side Heart of Midlothian was also confirmed.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

## Competitions
### Overall record

| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Championship | Matchday 1 | | 42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 57 | 66 | −9 | 026.19 |
| FA Cup | Third round | Fourth round | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 033.33 |
| EFL Cup | First round | Second round | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | +0 | 050.00 |
| Total | Total | Total | 47 | 13 | 13 | 21 | 66 | 76 | −10 | 027.66 |
Last updated: 9 April 2024 Source: Soccerway

### Championship
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 18 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 47 | 58 | −11 | 56 | |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 60 | 74 | −14 | 53 | |
| 20 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 15 | 8 | 23 | 44 | 68 | −24 | 53 | |
| 21 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 59 | 70 | −11 | 51 | |
| 22 | Birmingham City (R) | 46 | 13 | 11 | 22 | 50 | 65 | −15 | 50 | Relegated to EFL League One |
| 23 | Huddersfield Town (R) | 46 | 9 | 18 | 19 | 48 | 77 | −29 | 45 | Relegated to EFL League One |
| 24 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | 5 | 12 | 29 | 37 | 89 | −52 | 27 | Relegated to EFL League One |

#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 4 May 2024. Source: Soccerway

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 29$^1$ | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H |
| Result | W | D | L | L | W | L | L | W | D | L | L | D | W | L | D | L | W | L | W | L | D | W | D | D | L | D | D | W | W | L | D | L | L | W | L | L | D | L | L | L | W | D | W | L | L | W |
| Position | 3 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
* $^1$ Matchday 29 (vs West Bromwich Albion) was postponed due to both sides continued involvement in the FA Cup.

#### Matches

On 22 June, the EFL Championship fixtures were released.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### FA Cup

Plymouth joined the competition in the third round, and were drawn at home to Sutton United, then away to Leeds United in the fourth round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures

### EFL Cup

Plymouth were drawn at home to Leyton Orient in the first round and to Crystal Palace in the second round.
Win  Draw  Loss  Fixtures