Sports Mole previews Saturday's pre-season clash between Plymouth Argyle and Bristol City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Plymouth Argyle and Bristol City continue their preparations for the upcoming 2022-23 campaign with their third pre-season friendly of the summer at Home Park on Saturday.

Both sides are yet to taste defeat so far this summer as they get set to gear up for seasons in League One and the Championship respecitvely.

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Match preview

After missing out on the playoffs by just three points last season, Plymouth are getting set to go again when they host recently-relegated Barnsley in a tasty season opener on July 30.

Steven Schumacher's side will be hoping to be in and amongst it yet again, and ahead of the new season, they have began preparations with consecutive draws in their opening two pre-season matches.

Argyle opened the summer with a dramatic 2-2 comeback draw with local neighbours, and amateur outfit, Plymouth Parkway.

Ryan Hardie and Joe Edwards netted in the final few minutes to salvage the draw and avoid a humiliating defeat that time around, before Plymouth again left it late to snatch a result in midweek too.

Swansea City were the visitors to Home Park on that occasion, and Hardie was at it once again when he netted two minutes from time to level the scores at 1-1.

Another Championship outfit in the form of Bristol City faces them on Saturday, before final warm-up matches against Yeovil Town and Truro City conclude their pre-season preparations prior to the opener at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, visitors Bristol City have also avoided defeat in their opening two friendlies of the summer so far.

Consecutive matches against League One opponents have been completed up to this point, with workouts against Cheltenham Town and Portsmouth being played out in recent weeks, before another third-tier side will be up against them on Saturday.

Cheltenham were defeated 2-0 by Nigel Pearson's side first of all, but the Robins were held to a goalless draw against Pompey at their training ground on Tuesday.

City were dominant for much of the 120-minute encounter but could not find a way through against their stubborn opponent, but Pearson will have been pleased with the successive clean sheets and number of opportunities created by his side once again.

Pearson's men open their 2022-23 Championship campaign with a trip to Hull City on July 30, and will be looking to improve on a 17th-placed finish this time around after recording the third-worst defensive record across the division with 77 goals conceded in 46 matches.

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Team News

Although wing-back Conor Grant is nearing a return for Plymouth, he is unlikely to play a part in Saturday's friendly whilst he continues to build up his fitness on the training ground.

James Bolton remains sidelined due to a broken foot, but Panutche Camara and Brendan Galloway could feature after taking part in full contact training on Thursday.

Bali Mumba signed on a season-long loan for Argyle from Norwich City on Thursday, and the right wing-back is expected to play a part as he competes with captain Joe Edwards in that area of the pitch.

As for the visitors, it is hopeful that wing-back Cameron Pring can play a part on Saturday after missing the draw with Portsmouth as a precaution due to a minor knee issue.

Striker Chris Martin was also absent due to the birth of his child, but the 33-year-old is expected to feature at Home Park against Plymouth.

Andreas Weimann, last season's star performer, should join Martin up front, with summer recruit Mark Sykes potentially sitting behind them in the 3-4-1-2 setup once again.

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Burton; Gillesphey, Wilson, Scarr; Edwards, Houghton, Mayor, Azaz, Law; Hardie, Jephcott

Bristol City possible starting lineup:
Bentley; Naismith, Atkinson, Tanner; Wilson, King, Massengo, Dasilva; Sykes; Martin, Weimann

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We say: Plymouth Argyle 2-2 Bristol City

An entertaining friendly could well be played out between two sides comfortable and open in possession of the ball, meaning goals should be expected at both ends of the pitch.

Pre-season friendlies can easily swing either way regardless of the calibres of teams on display, so as both have done during the summer so far, we can see this game ending level at Home Park.

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