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

League One outfit Plymouth Argyle will be aiming to make a winning start to their 2025-26 EFL Trophy campaign when they welcome League Two team Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night.

The hosts will enter the match off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Cardiff City in the third tier, while the visitors played out a 1-1 draw with Salford City on Saturday afternoon in League Two.

Match preview

Plymouth were relegated from the Championship last season in 23rd spot, and it has been a tough start to the 2025-26 campaign, with the strugglers picking up just three points from six matches to sit down in 21st in the League One table.

Tom Cleverley's side managed to record a 1-0 victory over Blackpool on August 23, but they have since suffered two defeats, being knocked out of the EFL Cup by Swansea City before going down 4-0 to Cardiff in the league.

The Greens need a morale-boosting result, and a win in this match would lead them nicely into their league fixture with Stockport on Saturday afternoon, but another defeat would be damaging.

Plymouth are actually on a six-game winning run against Cheltenham in all competitions, with their last defeat to Tuesday's opponents coming in the EFL Trophy back in October 2020.

Bristol Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s are also present in Group B, and the former are at the top of the section, having beaten the latter on penalties following a 4-4 draw on August 26.

Cheltenham, meanwhile, finished 15th in League Two last season, meaning that there is plenty of room for improvement this term, but it has been a very difficult start to the campaign.

Indeed, Michael Flynn's side are bottom of the League Two table, having picked up just one point from six matches, but that draw came away to Salford on Saturday afternoon.

The Robins also have a cup win to their name this season, having beaten Exeter City 2-0 in the first round of the EFL Cup on August 13, but they lost in the second round to Cardiff on August 26.

Cheltenham will not view the EFL Trophy as a priority this term, with the club focused on remaining in the Football League, but this competition will give head coach Flynn the chance to hand minutes to squad players and youngsters.

Plymouth Argyle form (all competitions):

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Cheltenham Town form (all competitions):

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Team News

Plymouth head coach Cleverley will ring the changes for this match, with squad players expected to be given valuable minutes, while key figures will be rested for the upcoming league games.

Zak Baker should be introduced between the sticks, while there could be starts for all of Joe Edwards, Freddie Issaka, Joseph Hatch and Aribim Pepple, with each of the four players featuring off the bench on Saturday.

There could also be spots at the back for Brendan Galloway and Joe Edwards.

As for Cheltenham, head coach Flynn will make changes to his side from Saturday's game with Salford.

Mamadou Diallo is in line for a spot in goal, while George Harmon, Tommy Backwell, Ryan Broom and Jake Bickers are all expected to be brought into the starting XI.

Bickerstaff is expected to replace Lee Angol in the final third of the field, while Cheltenham could switch to a back four, with Arkell Jude-Boyd dropping from wing-back into a right-back spot.

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Baker; Edwards, Mitchell, Galloway, Sorinola; Issaka, Ibrahim, Roberts, Hatch; Oseni, Pepple

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Diallo; Jude-Boyd, Power, Mazionis, Harmon; Backwell, Sohna; Broom, Martin, Archer; Bickerstaff

We say: Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Cheltenham Town

Plymouth are struggling this season, but the same can also be said for Cheltenham; we are expecting Tuesday's game to be tight, but the home side's additional quality should allow them to pick up a win.

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