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Championship | Gameweek 2
Aug 12, 2023 at 3pm UK
Vicarage Road
PA
Plymouth Argyle

Watford
0 - 0
Plymouth

 
FT

Scarr (71'), Mumba (78')

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

:Headline: Preview: Watford vs. Plymouth Argyle - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Watford and Plymouth Argyle, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Watford will be looking to make it back-to-back wins at the start of their Championship campaign when they welcome Plymouth Argyle to Vicarage Road on Saturday afternoon.

The Hornets were the big winners on the opening weekend of the second-tier season, thrashing Queens Park Rangers, while Plymouth marked their return to this level with a win over Huddersfield Town.


Match preview

Preview: Watford vs. Plymouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Watford started life under Valerien Ismael with a convincing win last Saturday, beating Gareth Ainsworth's QPR 4-0 at Vicarage Road, meaning they now sit top of the Championship standings.

Tom Dele-Bashiru put the Hornets ahead after just 40 seconds, and further strikes in the first half from Imran Louza, Matheus Martins and Vakoun Issouf Bayo made the second period a formality against the visiting R's.

Former West Bromwich Albion boss Ismael also made a fast start at the Hawthorns during the 2021-22 season, although the Frenchman will be hoping his tactics are not sussed out by the rest of the division this time around.

A fairly strong Watford side travelled to the Lamex Stadium and lost to League One side Stevenage on Tuesday in the EFL Cup, meaning Ismael's men only have second-tier football to focus on until January.

It has been 13 years since the Hornets faced Plymouth in a competitive match, with Saturday's hosts managing to do the double over the Pilgrims in the 2009-10 Championship season.

Preview: Watford vs. Plymouth - prediction, team news, lineups

Home Park welcomed back Championship football for the first time in over a decade last Saturday, and supporters of Plymouth were treated to a terrific victory over relegation-tipped Huddersfield.

All three of the Green Army's dangerous-looking front three got on the scoresheet in Devon, with Morgan Whittaker, Bali Mumba and Ryan Hardie opening their accounts for the campaign.

The pick of the goals was certainly former Norwich City man Mumba's, with the 21-year-old gliding past countless Terriers defenders before slotting the ball past a helpless Lee Nicholls in the visitor's net.

With youngster Finn Azaz also returning to Plymouth following a successful loan spell from Aston Villa last season, the Pilgrims have managed to retain much of the squad who lifted the League One title in May.

Manager Steven Schumacher is reportedly targeting one more addition before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month, after the exciting loan capture of Luke Cundle from Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this week.

Watford Championship form:
  • W


Watford form (all competitions):
  • W
  • L

Plymouth Argyle Championship form:


Plymouth Argyle form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W



Team News

Watford fans will be hoping to catch a glimpse of new signings Thomas Ince and Giorgi Chakvetadze for the first time on Saturday, although Ismael is wary of rushing the pair back to the first-team fold too soon.

Jamal Lewis has arrived on loan from Newcastle United to provide competition at left-back, but it is likely that James Morris will retain his place in the XI after starting the demolition of QPR last time out.

With Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr leaving to join Brighton & Hove Albion and Marseille respectively this summer, the attacking responsibility now falls onto the shoulders of Bayo, Martins and Ken Sema until further additions can be made to the squad.

Plymouth are expected to name an unchanged XI to the one which dismantled Huddersfield on the opening day, meaning Lewis Gibson will partner former Walsall man Dan Scarr at the heart of the visitors' backline.

Youngsters Callum Wright and Adam Randell will be fighting new arrival Cundle for a spot in the Pilgrims engine room over the next few weeks, but the duo should have done enough to maintain their places for this weekend's Vicarage Road clash.

Brendan Galloway and Macauley Gillesphey have not featured so far this term due to their respective injuries, although both are targeting a return to action before the end of this month.


Watford possible starting lineup:
Bachmann; Ngakia, Porteous, Hoedt, Morris; Dele-Bashiru, Sierralta, Louza; Sema, Martins, Bayo

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:
Hazard; Edwards, Scarr, Gibson, Kelser-Hayden; Wright, Houghton, Randell; Whittaker, Mumba, Hardie


We say: Watford 3-2 Plymouth Argyle

Watford are back at Vicarage Road after EFL Cup disappointment in the week, and the Hornets faithful will be expecting a response against newly-promoted Plymouth.

The Pilgrims burst back onto the second-tier scene in the contest with Huddersfield last time out, but a trip to Hertfordshire will prove a much sterner test for the League One champions.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:data


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1Leeds UnitedLeeds32209366194769
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd32216546232367
3Burnley32171323993064
4Sunderland321711449282162
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn32146123731648
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom321114741301147
7Bristol City32111294036445
8Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds32129114548-345
9Middlesbrough31128115042844
10Coventry CityCoventry32128124240244
11Norwich CityNorwich321110115044643
12Watford32126144248-642
13Queens Park RangersQPR321011113541-641
14Millwall311010113132-140
15Preston North EndPreston3191393438-440
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd32911123445-1138
17Swansea CitySwansea32107153343-1037
18Portsmouth3289153955-1633
19Stoke CityStoke31711132839-1132
20Cardiff CityCardiff31710143453-1931
21Derby CountyDerby3278173342-929
22Hull City3178163142-1129
23Plymouth ArgylePlymouth31610153464-3028
24Luton TownLuton3176183051-2127
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