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Plymouth Argyle fans up for Man City FA Cup tie

Georgina Barnes
BBC News, South West
John Danks
BBC News, Devon
BBC A smiling woman with long hair and glasses holds up a green and white Plymouth Argyle football scarf outside a post office. She is wearing a black thin puffer over a pink and white top Argyle top with a long sleeve black top under that. Behind her, other people are visible, along with a red postbox and posters featuring Plymouth Argyle players on the shop window.BBC
Tina Debenham said Maksym Talovierov would "eat Haaland for breakfast" if he was on the pitch

Plymouth Argyle's Green Army are hoping their team can give the defending Premier League champions a challenge in their FA Cup tie on Saturday.

The Devon side, who are near the bottom of the Championship table, beat Premier League leaders Liverpool 1-0 in a fourth-round victory at Home Park at the beginning of the month.

Their next opponents Manchester City remain near the top of the Premier League table and boast some of the world's best players, although striker Erling Haaland's return from injury was still uncertain.

Elburton postmistress Tina Debenham said she hoped City would be "having a bad day" to give the Pilgrims more of a chance to win.

She said: "Of course we can do it.

"Maxi (Maksym Talovierov) will eat Haaland for breakfast if he's playing, but realistically it's our cup final.

"We've got the enjoy every minute of it."

Ms Debenham said "we'll be the talk of England" if Argyle win.

A woman wearing a green Plymouth Argyle football shirt sitting. Behind her, football jerseys in different colours, including yellow and blue, hang on a rack. A mini-foosball table is visible in the background on top of a table, and sunlight streams into the room, partially shadowing her face.
Jo Benwell said the game would be "a fantastic occasion" for the club and fans

About 8,000 fans are expected to travel to the Etihad Stadium in Manchester to support the Pilgrims in the fifth-round tie.

Lifelong Argyle supporter Jo Benwell will be one of them.

She said: "There's always a real thrill as a lower league fan to go to these big stadiums and whenever Argyle fans travel in large numbers for big cup games it's always a great atmosphere.

"It's going to be a fantastic occasion for the club and one that the fans can really enjoy because there's no pressure on us to go there and win."

'Get through it'

Plymouth Argyle are currently in 22nd place out of 24 spots.

Ms Benwell said if the club won the FA Cup but were relegated in the same season she would "take that".

"We can get through it again but the chances of ever winning the FA Cup again in our lifetime is unlikely."

A man with short dark hair and slight facial hair sits in a room decorated with Plymouth Argyle football memorabilia. He is wearing a black and green team jersey. Behind him, framed pictures, football shirts, and a grey brick-patterned wall are visible.
Harvey England says there will be "a boom in atmosphere"

The last win is the first time the Devon side have beaten Liverpool since February 1956, with fans describing it as a "magical afternoon".

Argyle legend and record appearance holder Kevin Hodges said under new manager Miron Muslic - anything was possible this weekend.

Argyle fan and Youtuber Harvey England said: "Coming up against a team which are dominant and wild football Premier League giants, Champion League giants, filled with the names of the game.

"Erling Haaland, whether or not he'll be playing, Kevin de Bruyne, one of the best midfielders in the world.

"It's going to be a boom in atmosphere and we've got to show Man City what we're about."

The teams will play each other at 17:45 GMT on ITV.

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