Two sides languishing in the relegation zone of the Championship table are set to come together on Tuesday night when Plymouth Argyle host Portsmouth at Home Park.
The hosts are 22nd in the table with 12 points from 13 games, while the visitors are at the foot of the standings with just nine points from their 13 outings.
Match preview
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Plymouth secured their promotion into the Championship with a superb League One title-winning season in 2022-23, lifting the title with 101 points from 46 outings.
The Greens did exceptionally well to stay in the division in their first campaign in the Championship since 2009-10 last year, with Plymouth finishing 21st in the table, a single point above 22nd-placed Birmingham City.
Wayne Rooney was hired as the new permanent boss ahead of the beginning of 2024-25 with ambitions to merely remain in the league once again, but Plymouth have struggled to get going under their new manager.
Rooney's men were thrashed 4-0 in their first game against Sheffield Wednesday, followed by winning three, drawing three and losing six of their next 12 league games.
After a positive spell of three wins in six games, the Greens have now gone four matches without a victory, suffering three losses and recording just one draw in that time, when they sensationally came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Preston North End.
Portsmouth earned their promotion from League One for the first time since being relegated from the second tier in 2011-12 last year, lifting the League One title with 97 points from 46 games.
Pompey have similarly struggled to get going in their opening matches to the 2024-25 season, sitting at the bottom of the Championship table with just nine points from 13 outings.
John Mousinho's men have managed only one victory in 14 matches across all competitions, a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers, but they are once again without a win in their last three games.
Portsmouth are now coming into this game aiming to take a much-needed three points off not only a relegation rival but also secure bragging rights in the Dockyard Derby, a fixture Pompey have failed to win in the last seven meetings.
Team News
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The hosts will be without the services of Brendan Galloway, Conor Hazard, Joe Edwards and Lewis Gibson for this match due to ongoing injury issues.
Plymouth were utterly dominated by Leeds United in their last game, failing to take a single shot throughout the game, meaning Rooney could make a number of changes here.
As for the visitors, Colby Bishop, Conor Shaughnessy, Ibane Bowat, Jacob Farrell and Paddy Lane are all ruled out with ongoing injury concerns.
Andre Dozzell is also a doubt after the midfielder was forced off in the 82nd minute of their 1-1 draw to Hull City last time out, meaning Owen Moxon could start.
Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Grimshaw; Palsson, Szucs, Pleguezuelo, Mumba; Randell, Gyabi; Whittaker, Al Hajj, Cissoko; Obafemi
Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Schmid; Devlin, Poole, McIntyre, Ogilvie; Potts, Moxon; Ritchie, Lang, Murphy; Yengi
We say: Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Portsmouth
Neither of these two sides have enjoyed the best of starts to the 2024-25 campaign, but we believe the home advantage could play a major role in helping Plymouth Argyle get over the line with a crucial win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
