Why Southampton and Plymouth Argyle fans will have exact same feeling right now | OneFootball

Southampton and Plymouth Argyle are chasing the play-offs in the Championship and League One, respectively

Southampton and Plymouth Argyle are both at the right end of the table at the business end of the season in the Championship and League One, respectively.

The Saints defeated Oxford United 2-0 on Saturday to ensure that they occupy a play-off spot during March's international break, and have seven games remaining.

Meanwhile, Plymouth sit just one point and one place adrift of the League One top six, having enjoyed a 3-1 victory over fellow play-off chasers Huddersfield Town on the weekend.

Argyle are next in League One action when they host Bolton Wanderers on Good Friday, whereas Southampton's next Championship fixture isn't until 7 April, because they are in FA Cup quarter-final action against Arsenal on Easter weekend.

Southampton and Plymouth Argyle have endured similar EFL drama this season

Southampton are eyeing an immediate Premier League return, whereas Plymouth are vying to win promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Both the Hampshire club and the Devon outfit have now given themselves every chance of achieving those respective goals via the play-offs, but earlier in the season, even the most optimistic supporter of either side would have deemed promotion as an unlikely outcome.

The Saints made a terrible start to life back in the Championship under former boss Will Still, who yielded just two wins from 13 second-tier games.

Still's replacement, Tonda Eckert, has steered the St Mary's Stadium club to resurgent form, and an unbeaten run of 12 league games, which has included nine victories, and has taken them to the brink of the play-offs.

Southampton's current sixth-place status means that they hold the advantage over fellow play-off chasers Wrexham and Derby County, who both play the Saints next month.

Unlike the Hampshire outfit, Plymouth haven't changed manager this term, as they have stuck by Tom Cleverley despite the woeful start to the League One season they endured.

The Pilgrims were in the third-tier relegation zone exactly midway through the campaign, after drawing 1-1 with Wycombe Wanderers on 29 December.

However, Argyle have largely excelled since the turn of the year, and are currently enjoying a five-game unbeaten streak, which has included four wins.

Crucially, Plymouth's last two wins have come against direct play-off-chasing rivals Stevenage and Huddersfield, which have left them just one point behind the top six.

Pilgrims supporters will join Southampton fans in believing that their respective sides have enjoyed an incredible upturn in form to reignite strong play-off hopes despite previously looking nervously over their shoulders.

Plymouth may need to seal Championship promotion to retain Lorent Tolaj and Bim Pepple amid transfer developments

Plymouth want to restore their Championship status, having spent two seasons in the second tier before suffering relegation back to League One in 2025.

Winning promotion back to the second tier may also be Argyle's only way of retaining forward duo Lorent Tolaj and Bim Pepple, who have proven themselves as two of the best strikers in the third tier this term.

As reported by the Daily Mail, Celtic are interested in both Tolaj and Pepple, which provides strong evidence that both strikers are deemed to be better than League One quality.

With that in mind, Argyle must clinch promotion to the Championship to retain their forwards' respective services.

Above all, though, Plymouth fans will be delighted by their side's turnaround in recent weeks and months, and Southampton supporters will have the same feeling regarding the Saints.