Plymouth vs Middlesbrough Preview
- Tournament: EFL Championship 2024-25
- Date: Saturday, December 21, 2024
- Time: 3:00 pm GMT
- Venue: Home Park
A struggling Plymouth Argyle side will host Middlesbrough in their Championship clash at Home Park on Saturday, December 21.
Plymouth narrowly avoided relegation last season but have struggled massively this season under manager Wayne Rooney. They are 23rd in the league after 20 games with just four wins, five draws, and 11 defeats. They have 17 points, just one more than Hull City, and are edging closer to relegation.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are sixth and are gunning for that playoff spot. They have 10 wins, four draws and seven defeats in 21 league games and sit 11 points behind leaders Sheffield United. However, teams around them are very close to each other on points and hence, every match is vital to reach the playoffs at the end of the season.
Plymouth Team News
Plymouth will be without Ibrahim Cissoko, Joe Edwards, Morgan Whittaker, and Muhamed Tijani due to their respective injuries. All of them are expected to return in January 2025.
Middlesbrough Team News
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are without Aidan Morris, Alex Bangura, Darragh Lenihan, Luke Ayling, and Tommy Smith due to their respective injuries. Except for Lenihan and Smith, who could return this month, all of them are also scheduled for a January return.
Predicted Lineups
Plymouth predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Daniel Grimshaw
Defenders: Brendan Galloway, Lewis Gibson, Kornel Szucs, Bali Mumba
Midfielders: Darko Gyabi, Adam Randell, Rami Al-Hajj
Attackers: Michael Obafemi, Ryan Hardie, Mustapha Bundu
Middlesbrough predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):
Goalkeeper: Solomon Brynn
Defenders: Anfernee Dijksteel, Rav van den Berg, George Edmundson, Neto Borges
Midfielders: Jonathan Howson, Hayden Hackney, Finn Azaz
Attackers: Ben Doak, Emmanuel Latte Lath, Delano Burgzorg
Plymouth vs Middlesbrough H2H Record
In their previous three meetings across competitions, both have won one match each with the remaining match ending in a draw.
Last 5 results:
| Middlesbrough 0-2 Plymouth | Championship | February 18, 2024 |
| Plymouth 3-3 Middlesbrough | Championship | November 4, 2023 |
| Plymouth 1-2 Middlesbrough | Club Friendlies | July 23, 2021 |
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Key Players to watch in Plymouth vs Middlesbrough
Mustapha Bundu
With the likes of Morgan Whittaker and Ibrahima Cissoko out injured, Plymouth Argyle will look towards Mustapha Bundu to be their main attacker against Middlesbrough. The Sierra Leone international is one of their top scorers this season with three goals and their top assist provider with two. He’s done so in 17 games across competitions.
Bundu joined Plymouth from Belgian side Anderlecht in the summer of 2023 and has since registered six goals and four assists in 45 games for them. He will be keen to add to his tally against Middlesbrough and help his side earn crucial three points.
Emmanuel Latte Lath
The Ivory Coast international has been Middlesbrough’s joint top scorer this season with Tommy Conway in the Championship, both with eight goals each. However, Emmanuel Latte Lath has been preferred in the starting XI in recent games and to good effect. He scored the only goal in Middlesbrough’s 1-0 win over Millwall in their last game.
Lath joined the Championship from Atalanta in the summer of 2023. He’s contributed 26 goals and three assists in 58 games for them. He will be keen to add to his tally against Plymouth on Saturday.
Plymouth vs Middlesbrough Prediction
Plymouth have massively struggled this season. Their last win was on November 6 when they beat Portsmouth 1-0. They have been winless in their next six games since, losing their last four games in a row. They lost against Norwich City, Bristol City, Swansea City, and Sheffield United in their last four games.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have two wins in their last five games with two defeats and one draw. They drew against Burnley, lost against Leeds United and then beat Millwall in their last three games.
While they sit sixth, Middlesbrough haven’t been that consistent this season either. However, seeing Plymouth’s struggles, it’s hard to see the Boro having much trouble on Saturday. Moreover, the hosts are also missing some key players in attack.
If they do lose another match though, the pressure on the head coach will certainly increase tenfold, which may even cost him another job.
Predicted Score: Plymouth 1-2 Middlesbrough
Where to watch Plymouth vs Middlesbrough Live?
| Country | Where to Watch |
| USA | NBC Sports |
| UK | Sky Sports |
| India | FanCode |
FAQs
Q. When is Plymouth vs Middlesbrough?
A. It’s on Saturday (December 21) at 3:00 pm GMT at Home Park.
Q. Where to watch Plymouth vs Middlesbrough for free?
A. Soccerstreams, Footybite, etc.
Q. What is the predicted score for Plymouth vs Middlesbrough?
A. The predicted score is Plymouth 1-2 Middlesbrough
Q. What is the head-to-head record for Plymouth vs Middlesbrough?
A. In their last three meetings, both teams have won one match each and one match ended in a draw.
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