Walsall opposition watch: Plymouth

And while manager Derek Adams insists consolidation is now the aim, fans of the Pilgrims are dreaming a little higher.

A summer recruitment drive saw the feisty Scottish boss move on the fringe players that helped his side clinch a place in English football’s third tier.

In their place came a host of signings ready to make their mark on the first team.

Defender Ryan Edwards was snapped up from Morecambe, Jamie Ness joined from Scunthorpe to add bite to the midfield while talented playmaker Ruben Lameiras was enticed away from Coventry.

Add in the additions of widemen Lionel Ainsworth (Motherwell), Gregg Wylde (Millwall) and Joel Grant (Exeter) and fans believe they have a team that should be aiming for the top 10.

Key to those hopes will be the form of Graham Carey, who has been the Pilgrims’ talisman for the past two years and was named in the League Two team of the year last season.

The playermaker turned down a host of clubs to sign an improved deal to stay on the South Coast over the summer.

And he is now hoping to provide the ammunition for Nadir Çiftçi, who joined on loan from Celtic last week.

The striker cost the Scottish champions £1.2million back in 2015.

But he struggled to make an impact at Celtic Park and is now looking to reinvigorate his career in England.

Adams will hope Çiftçi can prove the difference with Plymouth having made a steady yet unspectacular start to the new season.

A narrow defeat to Peterborough on the opening day now doesn’t look he worst result in the world with the way the Posh have begun the campaign.

And that was followed by a good victory over Charlton before Adams’ men secured a point at Southend.

But the Pilgrims were dealt a bit of a reality check last weekend when they were beaten 4-0 by Scunthorpe.

A first-half red card for Antoni Sarcevic was one of the main reasons that defeat was so heavy. The ex-Shrewsbury man is now suspended for tomorrow’s game.

Dangerman

Graham Carey

Seen by many Pilgrims fans as a player good enough to be in the Championship, Carey has become Plymouth’s main man since joining from Ross County. Able to play on the left, right or as a No.10, he regularly chips in with goals.