Plymouth Argyle will welcome Derby County to Home Park for Saturday’s crucial clash in the battle to secure Championship survival.
The Pilgrims are languishing at the bottom of the table, while the Rams are just two points better off in 22nd position.
Match preview
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Plymouth may be propping up the Championship table, but they will head into Saturday’s fixture in a positive mood after claiming their first away league win of the season in Tuesday’s clash with Portsmouth.
Mustapha Bundu and Ryan Hardie scored either side of half-time to give Plymouth a two-goal lead, before they were reduced to 10 men in the closing stages when Matthew Sorinala was sent off for two bookable offences.
Adil Aouchiche quickly pulled a goal back to set up a nervy finish, but the Pilgrims successfully negotiated 11 minutes of stoppage time to bring an end to their five-game winless league run.
After enjoying a successful trip to Fratton Park, Plymouth will now return to the familiar surroundings of Home Park, where they have collected 25 of their 33 points this season.
The Pilgrims have avoided defeat in each of their last four meetings with Derby, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent home encounter in March 2023.
They can also take confidence from the fact they have already got the better of John Eustace at Home Park this season after recording a 2-1 victory over his Blackburn Rovers side in October.
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Eustace experienced a difficult start to life as Derby manager after he made the decision last month to leave a playoff push at Blackburn for a survival bid at Pride Park.
The 45-year-old oversaw three consecutive defeats without scoring, before claiming his first victory in a home game against his former club Blackburn.
Derby backed up their successful outing against Rovers with a 2-0 home victory in Tuesday’s clash with Coventry, which came courtesy of first-half goals from Matt Clarke and Marcus Harness.
After moving to within one point of safety, the Rams will now look to overcome another challenge by ending a 10-game winless league run (D3, L7).
If Derby are to claim their second away league win of the season, they will have to beat Plymouth in a competitive game for the first time since recording a 2-1 home win in August 2009.
Team News
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Plymouth remain without the injured duo of Muhamed Tijani and Brendan Galloway, while Sorinola will serve a one-match following his red card at Fratton Park.
Defender Julio Pleguezuelo will also miss Saturday’s home fixture after he was stretchered off with suspected broken ribs in Wednesday’s victory.
Midfielder Adam Randell will serve the final game of a three-match suspension after he admitted an FA misconduct charge from last month’s draw with Cardiff City.
As for the visitors, they are unable to call upon Curtis Nelson, Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, David Ozoh, Dajaune Brown, Ben Osborn, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Kemar Roofe.
Forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is another injury concern after sitting out the last three matches with a knee problem.
January addition Sondre Langas missed the midweek win over Coventry with a hamstring issue, making him a fitness doubt for the trip to Home Park.
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Hazard; Talovierov, Katic, Szucs; Mumba, Houghton, Gyabi, Puchacz; Wright, Hardie; Bundu
Derby County possible starting lineup:
Widell Zetterstrom; Phillips, Clarke, Forsyth; Nyambe, Adams, Armstrong, Thompson, Elder; Yates, Harness
We say: Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Derby County
The two relegation-threatened sides will be desperate to claim all three points in Saturday’s crucial fixture, but while Derby have won their last two matches at Pride Park, they have lost six of their last seven away games, and we believe their struggles on the road will continue with a narrow defeat.
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