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

At a time when the visitors sit level on points with second-placed Leeds United, Plymouth are 15th in the table, albeit just five points above the bottom three.

Match preview

As recently as a few weeks ago, Kieran McKenna would have accepted that Ipswich may have to settle for a playoff spot at the end of the season, despite spending so long in the top two.

There could be no complaints after winning just once over a nine-game period, yet Ipswich are now back in contention to either finish as runners-up, or even as champions.

A four-match winning streak, scoring 13 goals in the process, has been put together at the same time that leaders Leicester City and fellow contenders Southampton have lost their way.

Leeds United look unwavering right now and are justified promotion favourites over the Tractor Boys, yet Ipswich are back to having their destiny in their own hands once again.

The East Anglian outfit have also lost just once in 11 second-tier fixtures, something that has gone unnoticed, and they possess the second-best away record in the division with 32 points from 17 matches.

From the perspective of Plymouth, they have already recently faced four promotion candidates in succession, collecting just one point from a possible 12.

However, they were able to bounce back in style last weekend, running out 2-0 victors at Middlesbrough to put some breathing space between themselves and the bottom three.

Perhaps most importantly in the long run, Plymouth were able to record just their second away success of the campaign, both of which have come this month since Ian Foster's arrival at the turn of the year.

With relegation rivals to play in the next two matches, there are more important battles to come, yet this represents an opportunity to raise their level from earlier in the season and make it nine wins at Home Park in 18 attempts.

Plymouth Argyle Championship form:

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L

D

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W

Plymouth Argyle form (all competitions):

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D

L

L

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Ipswich Town Championship form:

L

D

W

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W

Team News

Although using Darko Gyabi in a more advanced role worked against Boro, the Leeds United loanee may return to a deeper role for this contest.

That said, Gyabi may also miss out altogether, with Alfie Devine likely to return in the final third for Plymouth and Adam Randell and Jordan Houghton having formed an effectively partnership at the Riverside Stadium.

Adam Phillips is expected to remain among the replacements, while Adam Forshaw is regarded as an injury doubt.

With Wes Burns in line to miss out for Ipswich through injury, Omari Hutchinson appears likely to be recalled in his place.

Harry Clarke could also take the spot of Axel Tuanzebe at right-back after being rested for the game against Birmingham City.

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Hazard; Pleguezuelo, Gibson, Galloway; Sorinola, Randell, Houghton, Miller; Whittaker, Hardie, Devine

Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:

Hladky; Clarke, Woolfenden, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Luongo; Hutchinson, Chaplin, Broadhead; Moore

We say: Plymouth Argyle 0-2 Ipswich Town

On the back of returning to winning ways last time out, the pressure has eased somewhat on Plymouth. Nevertheless, with Ipswich back to showing their ruthless touch from earlier in the season, the visitors should do enough to earn another win here.

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