Posh make the long trip to Devon to face a Plymouth side who have started the season off slowly again.
Argyle made a similarly slow start last season but they almost made the play-offs after an excellent second half of the season. They currently sit fourth from bottom with two points from their opening four League matches. The two draws have come in both their home matches with both ending in a one-all draw. The first was against Southend United with the second, on Tuesday evening, against Wycombe Wanderers.
PRE-SEASON TRANSFER ACTIVITY
The Pilgrims have seen 10 players leave Home Park with ten players coming in. Seven of the signings have arrived on a free transfer with just one, Ashley Smith-Brown, commanding an undisclosed fee from Manchester City.
The players brought in so far are:
- Conor Grant (Everton) – Free
- Niall Canavan (Rochdale) – Free
- Freddie Ladapo (Southend United) – Free
- Joe Riley (Shrewsbury Town) – Free
- Callum Dyson (Everton) – Free
- Harry Burgoyne (Wolves) – Loan
- Ashley Smith-Brown (Manchester City) – Undisclosed
- Scott Wootton (MK Dons) – Free
- Peter Grant (Falkirk) – Free
- Matt Macey (Arsenal) – Loan
FORM GUIDE
The Pilgrims have won just once this season and that came away at Championship side Bristol City in the Carabao Cup. In the League though, they lost two-one on the opening day of the season at Dean Keates’ Walsall and then lost one-nil at Coventry City.
They are unbeaten at home this season with two one-all draws. Both matches saw the home side take an early lead before being pegged back by the visitors.
Last season, after a stuttering start, their home form was outstanding with twelve wins and one draw from their last 14 home matches! If they do get back to this type of form it won’t be until after this weekend.
HEAD TO HEAD
There is very little to choose between these two sides when it comes to previous results. Out of 32 matches in all competitions, there is just one win separating them with just five of those matches ending in a draw.
That one extra win was by Posh in the League where they have won 11 times compared to 10 by the Pilgrims with 3 matches ending in a draw. Last season, both sides won their respective home fixture two-one.
The first time they ever met was in the FA Cup in the 1969/70 season at London Road. The second round clash saw Posh win the tie with two first-half goals scored by Ollie Conmy and Peter Price.
LAST TIME OUT AT HOME PARK
Posh lost in controversial fashion last season after seeing two players sent-off. The first, for right-back Liam Shephard, was overturned on appeal but that was little consolation after the match!
Jack Marriott opened the scoring for Posh after just nine minutes but the home side hit back just before the half-hour mark.
After the controversial sending off of Shephard, fifteen minutes from time, another moment of controversy saw the referee conned into giving the home side a penalty which earned the Pilgrims all three points. Steven Taylor also received his marching orders in added time as he tried to delay the spot-kick!
PREDICTION
Posh will break their record of four consecutive wins from the start of a season if they beat Plymouth and with the form they’ve shown so far, there is no reason they can’t achieve it.
However, Plymouth is never an easy place to go to and with the imposing home crowd, it can be an intimidating atmosphere for visiting players and match officials alike.
If Posh can continue their form they should be able to pull-off a fifth straight victory.
Our prediction for this match is 1-2.
