Former Ipswich Town defender James Wilson believes his Plymouth Argyle side can handle the Portman Road atmosphere this weekend.
The league-leaders come to Suffolk looking to open up a 10-point gap on third-placed Ipswich this weekend, when two serious automatic promotion contenders go head-to-head in front of a sold out Portman Road.
Wilson, who was named Town player-of-the-year in his final season at the club in 2020/21, is excited for the game and knows his side will need to deal with the occasion as well as Kieran McKenna’s team on the pitch.
"The fans are really behind them this season,” Wilson said of Ipswich, in an interview with Plymouth Live.
“They are obviously playing a lot better football than in previous seasons. It's massive for the fans. They think they should be in a higher league and club-wise they probably should be.
"It's a really good atmosphere when it's full and they are behind them. It's going to be a really tough game and a tough atmosphere to play in but I think the boys have got enough experience from this season to deal with that no problem.
"We want to start on the front foot and play our style of football, but that doesn't always happen. Like you saw last week (0-0 draw with Bolton), we have just got to grind out results sometimes."
Wilson is set to captain Argyle this weekend, with good friend and regular skipper Joe Edwards suspended.
"He's always a big miss but every time anyone has come out the team whoever has stepped in has done really well,” Wilson said.
“I think that has been the beauty of this season. Everyone has done well in the squad.
"If I play, hopefully that will be the case," he added, discussing the captaincy.
"It will be good going back there as a skipper. I'm looking forward to it."
Discussing Wilson’s influence, Argyle boss Steven Schumacher said: "He will be hugely important. I think James has been playing really well lately. The MK Dons game in particular, and he was outstanding at Bolton.
"He's a big part of the dressing room. He's vice-captain for a reason because he does lead by example and we are going to need him when his mate (Edwards) isn't available.
"He has got that experience as well of playing in a big stadium in front of a big crowd. Hopefully he can settle everybody down around him and put in another good performance for us."
Wilson made 49 appearances for Town during his two seasons with the club, having joined on a free transfer in the summer of 2019.
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