Will Plymouth defy odds of 5,000/1 in Sky Bet League One promotion push?
Tuesday 1 May 2018 20:13, UK
Ever since Leicester defied odds of 5,000/1 to win the Premier League, sport has been on the search for the next underdog to overcome previously unprecedented odds. That story could still arrive in Plymouth Argyle.
Greece's Euro 2004 heroics did not match it, Goran Ivanisevic's odds were not even close to Leicester's 5,000/1 when he won Wimbledon as a wildcard, but when the Pilgrims started December with a 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Sky Bet League One rivals Bradford, the EFL sponsor gave them those exact odds on securing promotion.
Bookmakers had stopped offering such pre-season odds due to the eye-watering liabilities being racked up as punters looked to emulate those pocketing five-figure pay-outs after backing the Foxes. However, Plymouth's woeful opening 20 games lured Sky Bet into finally re-offering the price which had caused an £8m payout just 18 months earlier.
With just 17 points to their name, Derek Adams' men had slumped to bottom of the table, 17 points adrift of the top six.
But Plymouth chairman James Brent opted to keep faith with Adams, despite his team propping up the division, and the result has paid dividends.
Live EFL
This story does have one fundamental flaw, though. Not one single punter backed Plymouth to be promoted at odds of 5,000/1 despite it being available on four different occasions during December.
However, perhaps that makes this story even more remarkable than Leicester's, with not even the most loyal of supporters thinking their side were capable of defying the longest odds bookmakers have ever paid out at.
Plymouth are seventh in the Sky Bet League One table with two games left to play and face sixth-place Scunthorpe on Tuesday night, live on Sky Sports Football. Victory would see Argyle move back into the play-off places and keep their unlikely dream in their own hands heading into the final weekend of the season.
David Prutton's verdict
"They looked doomed at the start of December! I thought they'd do better more quickly and they certainly took a while to adapt," said Sky Bet EFL expert David Prutton.
"But after underperforming in the first few months they soon got up to speed, and the club deserve credit for having the patience to stick with Adams. We've seen managers before get dispensed with far too quickly after winning promotion.
"It's validation for the owners and justification for the value Adams has brought to the club. They have chopped and changed in the past but now they've realised that standing by your manager can reap the right rewards.
"To get into the play-offs would be a wonderful achievement."
Don't miss the Sky Bet League One clash between Scunthorpe and Plymouth on Tuesday night, live on Sky Sports Football and Main Event from 7.30pm
