Plymouth Argyle have just broken their own miserable record that stood for nearly 70 years

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Plymouth Argyle have endured a barren start to their 2025/26 League One campaign, one familiar to the Green Army.

Plymouth Argyle suffered relegation from the Championship last term under Miron Muslic, and appointed Tom Cleverley to replace him after Muslic jumped ship to German giants Schalke.

In Cleverley’s first weeks in charge at Home Park, the former Watford boss suffered a testing time in the summer transfer window with a plethora of key Argyle figures departing ahead of the new season.

Wrexham signed Ryan Hardie, Maksym Talovierov joined Stoke City, Adam Randell moved to Bristol City, and Mustapha Bundu joined Hannover 96 as a free agent.

Those exits have had an evident negative impact on Cleverley’s start at Argyle, with their latest defeat matching their own “unsettling” record.

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Plymouth Argyle break their own miserable League One record

After four games played in the third tier, Plymouth sit in 23rd place, just one spot above rock-bottom Peterborough United.

On Tuesday evening, Plymouth were beaten 1-0 on home soil by Leyton Orient thanks to a 63rd-minute goal from Josh Koroma, to make it four successive league defeats in Cleverley’s first month in competitive action.

EFL Analysis exclusively revealed earlier this month that Plymouth’s financial position is stable, leaving many Green Army fans frustrated at their lack of expenditure this summer.

The Orient defeat was not only another lacklustre display from Argyle, it also broke an unfortunate League One record, ironically held by themselves.

Opta Joe posted on X: “Plymouth Argyle are the first team to lose each of their opening four games of a league campaign in the third-tier of English football, after suffering relegation the season prior, since the Pilgrims themselves in 1956-57. Unsettling.”

“Unsettling”, absolutely. Argyle must act between now and transfer deadline day on September 1 to add several quality recruits to Cleverley’s side, or an instant return to the Championship will be out of the question.

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Tom Cleverley knows Plymouth Argyle need new signings after latest loss

Recently, Plymouth signed Alex Mitchell on loan from newly promoted Charlton Athletic, but have failed to add further signings of his quality.

After the Orient defeat, Cleverley was adamant that Plymouth “will strengthen” before the window slams shut in less than two weeks’ time.

As quoted by Plymouth Live, Cleverley said: “Until all the business was done this window, we were trying to pick up as much points until we were a complete team.

“Now we have not managed to do that for one reason or another. We are all disappointed, we are all hurting but we all have to stick together.

“We will for sure strengthen in the (transfer) market further. I thought Alex (Mitchell, on loan from Charlton Athletic) looked a seasoned League One player.

“Maybe we need a couple more of those. It’s a huge task we have ahead, and we will meet it head on.”

Plymouth host Blackpool on Saturday afternoon, who have also struggled for form since the start of the season, and Cleverley will be desperate to turn the tide on Argyle’s early outings.