Plymouth are in a tough position as they try to avoid relegation to League One. To make things even more challenging, they are up against a Leeds team who are vying for the Championship title in the last round of games on Saturday.
The Pilgrims must secure a win and rely on other outcomes to go their way, as well as make up a 14-goal difference to stay afloat, considering their -36 goal difference.
Leeds have a clearer objective. With a guaranteed top-two finish, they can clinch the championship by matching or outperforming Burnley’s result against Millwall. A win could also see Leeds reach a milestone of 100 points.
Team news
Plymouth will be without Brendan Galloway and Matthew Sorinola, while loanee Michael Obafemi is unlikely to feature as he looks set to leave parent club Burnley.
There are doubts over Nikola Katic and Julio Pleguezuelo for the home team.
Pascal Struijk is ruled out for Leeds, and Joe Rothwell is expected to miss the game as well. Nevertheless, Dan James is optimistic about returning after sitting out the past two matches.
The statistics
Plymouth have only kept one clean sheet in their last 16 matches across all competitions.
Argyle have scored 10 goals in their last four home games.
Leeds have found the net in seven of their last eight away matches.
Both teams have scored in four of Leeds’ last eight games overall.
Prediction
The clash at Home Park on Saturday is crucial for both sides and could result in an entertaining game.
Plymouth not only need a win but also require a significant victory and some luck elsewhere to survive. Despite the odds, they are likely to approach the match positively.
Leeds, on the other hand, are expected to secure a win that would most likely see them lift the championship trophy due to their superior goal difference over Burnley. Their quality should lead them to claim all three points.
However, considering the high stakes, it might not be wise to heavily favor Leeds, and betting on both teams to score at odds of 19/20 could be a more suitable choice.
Plymouth have no choice but to attack from the start, and their impressive scoring form suggests they can find the back of the net. They have scored at least twice in each of their last four home games and have netted in seven of their last nine matches overall.
Although Leeds boast the strongest attack in the league with 93 goals, their defense has shown vulnerabilities on the road. The Yorkshire side has conceded 17 goals in 22 away games and has been breached in four of their last six away outings. This indicates that Plymouth could at least score as they try to pull off a miraculous last-day survival bid.