Preview: Plymouth Argyle vs. Bolton Wanderers - prediction, team news, lineups

Plymouth Argyle will look to maintain their position at the top of the League One table on Tuesday, when they welcome Bolton Wanderers to Home Park.

The hosts recorded a second straight league victory on Saturday, while their visitors will look to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Wigan Athletic.

Match preview

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After a somewhat underwhelming 18th-placed finish in England's third tier last season, Plymouth Argyle set about a push for the top six at the beginning of the new term, and they have enjoyed a notably strong start.

Having won seven of their opening 13 league games while only losing one, the Pilgrims currently sit at the summit of the division with 26 points, leading heavily-fancied Wycombe Wanderers on goal difference.

Following consecutive disappointing draws with Crewe Alexandra and Lincoln City, Ryan Lowe's side took top spot with a 2-1 home win over Burton Albion, as Conor Grant and Ryan Broom hit first-half goals.

They made it back-to-back league wins on Saturday as a Jordon Garrick goal and a Panutche Camara brace saw them overturn an early one-goal deficit to hand Oxford United a 3-1 defeat.

Currently leading the pack with an unmatched tally of 22 league goals, Lowe's men will be keen to maintain their position with what would be a third straight league win on Tuesday, although they take on a Bolton side desperate to bounce back from a crushing defeat.

The Trotters enjoyed a commendable start to the new campaign, collecting 18 points from the opening 11 games to sit comfortably in the top half.

However, back-to-back wins for Ian Evatt's men over Charlton Athletic and Shrewsbury Town have since been followed by consecutive defeats heading into Tuesday's trip.

The Lancashire outfit were handed their fourth league loss of the campaign when Lee Gregory made the difference in a 1-0 home win for Sheffield Wednesday last week, before they suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

Will Keane put the Latics ahead in the first 10 minutes, before James McLean starred with a brace alongside a Callum Lang goal in a dominant performance for the visitors.

Having now dropped to 10th spot in the third tier, Evatt's men will look to bounce back to winning ways on Tuesday to begin climbing back towards the top six.

Team News

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Given his side's impressive form, Ryan Lowe could deploy an unchanged Plymouth starting XI for Tuesday's clash.

However, there is heated competition for attacking spots, with Jordon Garrick expected to keep his place after scoring last time out, while Luke Jephcott and Ryan Hardie have netted four and eight League One goals respectively so far this season.

The Pilgrims have tended to prefer a back three, with Macauley Gillesphey, Dan Scarr and James Wilson handling business at the defensive end of the pitch.

On the contrary to their opponents, Bolton may look to make some changes to inspire a turnaround after Saturday's thrashing.

Lloyd Isgrove and Elias Kachunga will both be pushing to return to the starting XI in the wide areas, while experienced forward Eoin Doyle should continue to lead the line.

Twenty-year-old midfielder George Thomason may also be brought in to refresh the engine room.

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Gillesphey, Scarr, Wilson; Edwards, Camara, Houghton, Broom, Grant; Garrick, Hardie

Bolton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Dixon; Brockbank, Santos, Johnston, Gordon; Sheehan, Thomason; Kachunga, Sarcevic, Isgrove; Doyle

We say: Plymouth Argyle 2-0 Bolton Wanderers

Given the contrasting runs of form of the two sides, we can only see Plymouth adding another victory to their record on Tuesday.

The Pilgrims have been formidable going forward, and we do not expect an out-of-sorts Bolton side to stop them in their tracks.

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