MX23RW : Wednesday, December 28 04:04:49| >> :120:14638:14638:
[monks data]
Dec 17, 2022 at 3pm UK at Home Park
Plymouth
2 - 1
Morecambe
Ennis (69'), Cosgrove (84')
FT(HT: 0-0)
O'Connor (90+1')
Shaw (30')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Plymouth Argyle and Morecambe, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Two sides fighting at opposite ends of the League One table will do battle on Saturday, as second-placed Plymouth Argyle host basement side Morecambe.

The Pilgrims are fighting to stay in the top two after four league games without a win, while their visitors have not tasted victory since October.


Match preview

Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher celebrates after the match on January 8, 2022© Reuters

Plymouth Argyle enjoyed an eye-catching start to the League One season, setting up their promotion push in impressive fashion as they sat atop the division with 41 points from 17 outings.

In that time, Steven Schumacher's side put 13 victories on the board, but they have been unable to add another notch to their wins column in four attempts since, dropping from the summit as a result.

Following draws with Lincoln City and Burton Albion and a 5-1 thrashing to Grimsby Town in the FA Cup first round, Plymouth would suffer just a third league defeat of the season at home to Port Vale at the beginning of December, as James Wilson hit two second-half goals in a 2-0 away triumph.

Aiming to put an end to their dip in form, the Pilgrims travelled to take on Cambridge United last weekend, but neither side managed to break the deadlock, with Schumacher's men only able to return home with a point as a result.

While they were let off by Sheffield Wednesday also drawing, Plymouth have now dropped to second spot and only lead the third-placed Owls by two points, meaning they will now be desperate to return to winning ways and increase their cushion in the automatic promotion spots again.

Morecambe manager Derek Adams pictured on January 10, 2021© Reuters

They meet a Morecambe side in need of a result for different reasons, as the visitors look to climb off the foot of the table and improve their standing in the fight for survival.

The Shrimps' first half of the campaign has been contrary to that of Saturday's opponents, having managed just two victories in 20 league outings thus far, with their last three-point haul coming in October.

Since an unlikely triumph over Barnsley, Derek Adams's side have managed to add four points to their tally in six games courtesy of some commendable draws with Wycombe, Portsmouth and Derby County, but they remain bottom as a wait for another victory continues.

Following three third-tier draws on the bounce, as well as FA Cup and EFL Cup defeats, Adams's side would suffer their ninth league defeat of the season away at Lincoln City, with Jensen Weir's 81st-minute goal not enough to trigger a turnaround after they went 2-0 down.

Now on the back of a 1-1 draw with Exeter City in their last league outing last Friday, in which Cole Stockton's first-half opener was immediately cancelled out by Josh Key, the Shrimps find themselves level on points with 23rd-placed MK Dons and six points adrift of safety, and they will be keen to end their winless run and improve their position in the fight for survival with what would be a statement victory at Home Park.

Plymouth Argyle League One form:


Plymouth Argyle form (all competitions):


Morecambe League One form:


Morecambe form (all competitions):



Team News

Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher on February 5, 2022© Reuters

In a bid to turn their form around, Steven Schumacher could call Niall Ennis back into the Plymouth starting XI on Saturday, with the attacker boasting six goals and four assists in League One so far this season.

Swansea City loanee Morgan Whittaker, meanwhile, has contributed seven goals and five assists in 21 league appearances this term, and Sam Cosgrove could make way to allow the pair to flank Ryan Hardie, who leads the squad's scoring charts with eight in the third tier and 10 in all competitions thus far.

Danny Mayor will be vying to return from the outset in midfield, having been reduced to substitute appearances in recent weeks, while Nigel Lonwijk and Dan Scarr also found themselves on the bench last time out and will fight to start at the back.

Morecambe's attack will again be reliant on Cole Stockton, who has ended a drought to net his first two goals of the season in the last two matches after hitting the net 23 times in League One last season.

He will be given the nod over Huddersfield Town loanee Kieran Phillips to lead the line, likely with support from Jake Taylor, while Liam Shaw should again anchor the midfield alongside Jensen Weir, who leads the way in the squad with six goals in all competitions this season including five in England's third tier.

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Cooper; Wilson, Gillesphey, Scarr; Mumba, Houghton, Mayor, Edwards; Whittaker, Hardie, Ennis

Morecambe possible starting lineup:
Ripley; Cooney, Bedeau, O'Connor, Gibson; Shaw, Weir; Watts, Taylor, Mayor; Stockton


SM words green background

We say: Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Morecambe

While Plymouth are far from their best and the visitors have at least shown a degree of resilience recently, the Pilgrims will still see Saturday as a good opportunity to get back to winning ways, and they should have enough to outclass Morecambe and take all three points.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data

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Game History

How you voted: Plymouth vs Morecambe

Plymouth Argyle
85.0%
Draw
0.0%
Morecambe
15.0%
20
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Ipswich Town's James Norwood celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on December 29, 2021
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Plymouth ArgylePlymouth23155342251750
2Ipswich TownIpswich23146344222248
3Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds23137338182046
4Barnsley21114628171137
5Bolton WanderersBolton2210662619736
6Derby CountyDerby2298528171135
7Wycombe WanderersWycombe2310583025535
8Peterborough UnitedPeterborough22102103728932
9Port Vale229582429-532
10Bristol Rovers238783537-231
11Portsmouth207942622430
12Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury228592325-229
13Exeter CityExeter237793333028
14Lincoln CityLincoln216962126-527
15Oxford UnitedOxford Utd226882625126
16Fleetwood TownFleetwood2251162423126
17Charlton AthleticCharlton2251073231125
18Cheltenham TownCheltenham2174101623-725
19Cambridge UnitedCambridge2273122133-1224
20Accrington StanleyAccrington215792132-1122
21MK Dons2263132231-921
22Forest Green RoversForest Green2355131944-2520
23Burton Albion2347123044-1419
24Morecambe2229111734-1715

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