Bristol Rovers vs Plymouth Argyle: Prediction, Team News, Lineups Revealed
Bristol Rovers will face Plymouth Argyle at the Memorial Stadium on Tuesday in the EFL Trophy round of 16. Both teams have had a lengthy break of at least nine days since their last matches. Currently, both clubs are struggling with relegation battles in their respective leagues. The Pirates sit just three points above the League Two relegation zone, while the Pilgrims are six points clear of the drop zone in League One.
Bristol Rovers’ Season Overview
In League Two, Bristol Rovers are positioned in 20th place, with only three points separating them from 23rd place Harrogate Town. Their recent outing against Shrewsbury Town ended in a convincing 3-0 victory, providing a much-needed boost. Earlier in the EFL Trophy this season, Rovers defeated Plymouth 1-0, contributing to their first-place finish in Southern Section Group B with a total of eight points. They progressed past Cambridge United in the last-32 round after a penalty shootout.
Plymouth Argyle’s Recent Form
Plymouth Argyle has shown improvement, remaining unbeaten in their last three league matches. Their latest result was a solid 3-0 win against Burton Albion. This performance has allowed them to climb out of the League One relegation zone, with a record of nine wins, three draws, and 13 losses from 25 fixtures.
- Plymouth finished second in their EFL Trophy section after their loss to Rovers.
- They secured their last-16 spot with a narrow 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient.
Head-to-Head Record
Historically, Plymouth has a slight edge over Rovers in their matchups, winning 41 out of 111 encounters, while Bristol has secured 34 victories. This adds an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming fixture.
Team News and Possible Lineups
Both teams have decisions to make regarding their lineups. For Plymouth, manager Tom Cleverley might retain the same squad that has been performing well. Expected changes may include Luca Ashby-Hammond starting in goal, while key players Julio Pleguezuelo and Alex Mitchell are being monitored for fitness concerns. Cleverley is hopeful that Mitchell’s issues are merely precautionary.
Bristol Rovers also face selection dilemmas. They will be without Promise Omochere due to injury, and the fitness status of Macauley Southam-Hales and Callum Morton remains uncertain. Coach Steve Evans is likely to field a strong team to maintain momentum ahead of their League Two match against Colchester United.
- Bristol Rovers Possible Starting XI: Southwood; Senior, Lopata, Kilgour, Sparkes; Conteh, Lockyer, Cotterill; Forde, Cavegn, Thomas
- Plymouth Argyle Possible Starting XI: Ashby-Hammond; Galloway, Mitchell, Ross, Edwards; Mumba, Ralls, Boating, Amaechi; Pepple, Tolaj
Match Prediction
In our prediction, Plymouth Argyle appears to have the upper hand, likely winning 2-0 against Bristol Rovers if both teams field their strongest lineups. The significance of this match is heightened as both teams prepare for crucial league encounters, making it essential to find a rhythm and minimize any rustiness.
