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

The Foxes still have a healthy cushion between themselves and third place following the success at West Bromwich Albion, while the Pilgrims eased their faint relegation concerns with three points against Stoke City.

Match preview

Heading into extra time at The Hawthorns a week ago, league leaders Leicester City were staring down the barrel of one win in their last five matches after West Brom's Josh Maja scored a scrappy 89th-minute equaliser following Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's opener, but it would be the East Midlanders who would have the last laugh in the Black Country.

Carlos Corberan's men ploughed forward in questionable numbers in pursuit of a winner and were punished for their lack of defensive care in the final stages, with playmaker Dewsbury-Hall turning the provider as the Foxes struck on the break, affording former England international Harry Winks a simple tap-in to send the away end into hysterics.

Victories for all of Kieran McKenna's Ipswich Town, Daniel Farke's Leeds United and Russell Martin's Southampton made Leicester's success in the West Midlands even more important, meaning the Foxes remain eight points clear of the third-placed Whites after 19 games of the second-tier campaign.

After back-to-back away games at Hillsborough and The Hawthorns yielded four points, Enzo Maresca's side return to the King Power for the first time since their 2-0 success over Watford on November 25, when a late Jamie Vardy brace bailed out a sluggish display from the hosts.

The Foxes face four games against teams currently 15th or below in the table before a mouth-watering encounter with second-placed Ipswich on December 23, meaning those of a Leicester persuasion will be expecting to put 12 more points onto their impressive tally ahead of the trip to Portman Road.

Making a 100th appearance for his hometown club, midfielder Adam Randell was the hero of Home Park last time out as the 23-year-old scored a 97th-minute winner against Alex Neil's out-of-form Stoke side, extending Argyle's unbeaten home run to four matches.

The Green Army were facing the possibility of losing only their fourth home clash of the term when Tyrese Campbell netted for the Potters in the first half, but an equaliser from Sierra Leone's Mustapha Bundu allowed local boy Randell the chance to snatch all three points for the hosts.

Steven Schumacher's men currently occupy 16th position in the second-tier table after collecting a respectable tally of 22 points from their opening 19 matches, and although the Plymouth boss has been linked to the vacant managerial role at Sunderland following the departure of Tony Mowbray, the 39-year-old insists that he is at the "perfect place" to continue his development as a coach.

The clear reason why the Green Army have been unable to join the likes of the Black Cats in the chase for a top-six position is Argyle's woeful away record, with Saturday's visitors to the King Power failing to win any of their nine league outings, collecting just three points away from Home Park so far this season.

Since securing a permanent switch from Swansea City in the summer, Morgan Whittaker has scored eight goals in 19 Championship appearances for Plymouth this term, meaning the 22-year-old is one strike away from equalling the tally he managed during 25 League One games in 2022-23.

Leicester City Championship form:

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Plymouth Argyle Championship form:

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Team News

After Kelechi Iheanacho was largely unimpressive during the narrow success at West Brom last time out, Vardy could be set for a spot in the starting XI, while summer arrival Thomas Cannon is waiting patiently for his opportunity in the Leicester attack.

Wilfred Ndidi produced a solid display alongside goalscorers Dewsbury-Hall and Winks in the Foxes' engine room at The Hawthorns, meaning the Galatasaray-linked midfielder will retain his place in the XI.

Maresca's men will be without the services of influential defender Ricardo Pereira after he picked up his fifth yellow card of the term last weekend, with the versatile Hamza Choudhury a possible deputy at right-back.

Changes could be made on the flanks for Saturday's hosts, with Abdul Fatawu pushing for a start alongside Vardy and Stephy Mavididi, at the expense of Kasey McAteer.

With Bundu finding the net against Stoke, Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie could find it slightly more difficult to force his way back into the starting XI following time out due to a hamstring injury.

Brendan Galloway started his first game since April at left-back as the Green Army saw off the Potters, but the 27-year-old could make way for Mickel Miller at the King Power.

Last weekend's match-winner Randell could be rewarded with a starting spot in the East Midlands, with Schumacher potentially preferring the 23-year-old over more attack-minded players such as Luke Cundle and Finn Azaz.

Leicester City possible starting lineup:

Hermansen; Choudhury, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin; Ndidi, Winks, Dewsbury-Hall; Fatawu, Mavididi, Vardy

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Cooper; Kesler-Hayden, Scarr, Gibson, Miller; Houghton, Cundle, Azaz; Mumba, Whittaker, Hardie

We say: Leicester City 2-0 Plymouth Argyle

Leicester will be delighted to be back at the King Power following two tricky Championship outings, where the home faithful will demand maximum points and a dominant display from the league leaders.

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