Preview: Plymouth Argyle vs Reading - prediction, team news, lineups

Plymouth Argyle will be looking to pick up an important victory when they welcome Reading to Home Park on Saturday.

The hosts currently sit fifth in the League One table, while the visitors are just one point below them in sixth.

Match preview

Plymouth Argyle will be keen to build on their 3-2 victory away to Cambridge United last weekend after back-to-back defeats had threatened to derail their momentum.

The Pilgrims had lost 2-0 to Huddersfield Town and 3-0 to Stevenage in their previous two games, making their response at Cambridge particularly impressive.

Head coach Tom Cleverley branded it a "great away win", hailing the way his side "worked their socks off" and were "fighting for the badge".

Bim Pepple was among the goalscorers last weekend and he is Plymouth's top scorer, having bagged five so far this season.

However, it is worth noting that Plymouth have not beaten Reading in their last five meetings across all competitions, including a 4-1 defeat at Home Park last December.

Reading, meanwhile, travel to Devon looking to extend their winning run after successive league victories over Leyton Orient and Barnsley.

The Royals followed a 1-0 win over Orient with a 2-1 comeback victory against Barnsley, with Kyreece Lisbie scoring twice after the visitors took an early lead.

Reading's 25 league goals make them the division’s most productive attacking side and top scorer Jack Marriott is closing in on a return from injury, although he is unlikely to feature on Saturday.

Head coach Leam Richardson hailed Reading's resilience and character after the Barnsley comeback, claiming they were "excellent" in the second half and that there is "still a lot more" to come from them.

Plymouth Argyle League One form:

Plymouth Argyle form (all competitions):

Reading League One form:

Reading form (all competitions):

Team News

Plymouth are expected to stick with the same side that beat Cambridge, with Pepple set to lead the line.

Xavier Amaechi and Will Evans are likely to start out wide, with Tyreeq Bakinson and Harvey White set to continue their midfield partnership.

Reading could be forced to make at least one change after Paddy Lane picked up an injury against Barnsley, with Randell Williams in line to replace him on the left.

Lisbie will be looking to continue his good form on the right, while No.10 Josh Stokes has produced three assists in his last four league games.

Plymouth Argyle possible starting lineup:

Mahoney; Pleguezuelo, Mitchell, Harding; Sorinola, Bakinson, White, MacKenzie; Amaechi, Pepple, Evans

Reading possible starting lineup:

Pereira; Godwin-Malife, O'Connor, Dorsett, Roberts; Wing, Rinomhota; Williams, Stokes, Lisbie; Marriott

We say: Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Reading

Reading have been in better form than Plymouth and have an impressive recent record against them, which is why we are backing them to pick up all three points.

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