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

The home side will enter the contest off the back of a goalless draw with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, while Plymouth suffered a 2-1 defeat to Preston North End on the same afternoon.

Match preview

Bristol City have made a solid start to the 2023-24 campaign, boasting a record of two wins, three draws and one defeat from their opening six Championship matches to collect nine points, which has left them in 10th position in the table.

Nigel Pearson's side have already been knocked out of the EFL Cup this season, so their focus is firmly on the Championship at the moment, and they have managed to pick up four points from their last two matches.

Indeed, the Robins recorded a 2-1 victory away to Swansea City at the start of the month before drawing 0-0 with West Brom on Saturday afternoon.

Bristol City have been a Championship club since 2015, and they finished 14th in the table last term, so there is certainly room for improvement in 2023-24.

The Robins have not actually faced Plymouth in the league since March 2010, with the latter recording a 3-2 victory in the Championship clash.

The last two meetings between these two sides have been in the early rounds of the League Cup, with Bristol City recording 5-0 victory in August 2017, before Plymouth won 1-0 one year later.

Plymouth secured a position in the Championship for the 2023-24 campaign courtesy of their League One success last season, finishing top of the pile with 101 points from their 46 matches.

The Pilgrims have been away from the second tier since their relegation in 2009-10, and their main focus for this season will be to consolidate.

Steven Schumacher's side have picked up seven points from their six matches courtesy of a record of two wins, one draw and three defeats, which has left them in 13th position in the table.

Plymouth have lost four of their last five matches in all competitions, though, including a 2-1 defeat to Preston on Saturday, which followed a 3-0 home success over Blackburn Rovers.

Bristol City Championship form:

D

W

L

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W

D

Bristol City form (all competitions):

W

L

D

L

W

D

Plymouth Argyle Championship form:

W

D

L

L

W

L

Plymouth Argyle form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

W

L

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Team News

Bristol City will be without the services of four players through injury, with Tommy Conway, Ross McCrorie, Rob Atkinson and Ayman Benarous on the sidelines.

The home side did not pick up any fresh problems against West Brom, though, and it would not be a surprise to see the same XI take to the field for the first whistle on Tuesday night.

Nahki Wells has only scored once in the league this season but should again lead the line, while there will be another start for Sam Bell, who has two Championship goals to his name in 2023-24.

As for Plymouth, there have not been any reports of fitness issues following the clash with West Brom, so head coach Schumacher could have a full squad for this match.

Ryan Hardie has been in excellent form during the 2023-24 campaign, finding the back of the net on five occasions in the Championship, and he will again lead the line here.

Callum Wright and Adam Randell will be in the manager's thoughts when it comes to potential changes for this contest, but there were positives from the clash at Preston, so it could be an unchanged side here, especially as there has just been an international break.

Bristol City possible starting lineup:

O'Leary; Tanner, Vyner, Naismith, Pring; James, Williams; Sykes, Knight, Bell; Wells

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Hazard; Kesler-Hayden, Pleguezuelo, Gibson, Miller; Cundle, Houghton, Azaz; Whittaker, Hardie, Mumba

We say: Bristol City 1-1 Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth are on a run of four defeats from five, while they have only drawn once in all competitions this season, but we are backing a stalemate here. Bristol City have shared the points in two of their last three Championship matches and might be forced to settle for another point on Tuesday night.

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