The glamour of the FA Cup is over for another year, but not before over nearly four million television viewers witnessed a Plymouth Argyle team give as good as they got against one of the Premiership big boys. Manager Bobby Williamson had nothing but praised for the Argyle fans. Only three arrests were made at the game and Williamson said the fans were magnificent. 'They are the best supporters home and away I have ever seen. The way they got behind the players was awesome,' he said. In preparation for Argyle's run-in to the end of the season, Williamson took his squad off to North Devon for training and another bonding exercise. The manager had hoped that Austrian international Mario Haas would be among them. The 30-year-old Sturm Gratz striker was expected in Plymouth on Tuesday to put pen to paper. But his struggling Austrian club were holding out for a £280,000 fee for a player whose contract is up at the end of the season. If Haas does join, then Argyle's strike force could become a potent one, with new boy Scott Taylor from Blackpool and Mickey Evans already looking as if they could form a partnership. One thing the televised cup-tie did show was that Argyle are a much better side than their current form suggests. The emergence of Bjarni Gudjonsson in midfield has been a revelation. His aggression, pace and eye for a defence splitting pass could be the key to Argyle moving back up into mid-table security. It would appear that Williamson has got to grips with the Coca-Cola championship, and a couple more new faces could be on their way to Home Park as the manager starts to fill the obvious gaps in his squad. In the meantime, Argyle face a tough visit to lowly Gillingham, who they beat 2-1 at Home Park earlier in the season. As is often the case when a club acquires a new manager, results improve and under new manager Stan Ternent the Gills have drawn two and won one in their last three matches. They will be much tougher opposition than was at Home Park earlier. By contrast, Argyle's last six league matches have produced just one win and a draw. With Taylor eager to get on the score sheet, Williamson may opt for a 4-4-2 starting line-up. Influential The back four looks secure now that Graham Coughlan has returned. The midfield with Gudjonsson as the fulcrum should include David Friio and Tony Capaldi. Lee Hodges could secure a spot after his display against Everton, but the manager may still look to find a place for influential team captain Paul Wotton in a more defensive role. Gillingham will almost certainly be without tough central defender Barry Ashby, who injured a shoulder in the FA Cup defeat at Portsmouth. Gillingham may include former Argyle midfielder Mark Saunders in their squad.

Next Tuesday is the youth team's big day, when Crewe Alexandra come to Home Park for an FA Youth Cup fourth round tie, the furthest Argyle have been in this competition. The squad's preparation for this match was severely dented when this weeks reserve team fixture against Bristol City was called off. Cornish youngsters Chris Reski, Ryan Dickson and Brinton Nute should all be in contention for places against a club that prides itself on bringing on top class youngsters under manager Dario Gradi . The match kicks off at 7pm on Tuesday.

Argyle Ladies are still twiddling their thumbs, with their next match not until the end of the month.

Fixtures - Coca-Cola Championship: Sat Jan 15 Gillingham (A) 3pm; Sat Jan 22 Preston North End (H) 3pm. Youth team: FA Youth Cup fourth round Tues Jan 18 Crewe Alexandra (H) 7pm.