Plymouth vs Preston predictions: Pilgrims' hero to wreck Lowe’s return

- Plymouth have lost five of their last eight games
- Preston were 2-1 winners in the reverse fixture at Deepdale in September
- Recommended bet: Ryan Hardie first goalscorer

Preston boss Ryan Lowe makes his first return to Home Park since leaving Plymouth for Deepdale in 2021, in what is a huge fixture for both sides.

Lowe’s former club has dropped closer to the bottom three after a poor run of form while Preston’s home defeat by Stoke last week stopped their play-off push in its tracks.

Plymouth are 29/20 with LiveScore Bet to chalk up a ninth home win of the season while North End are 7/4 for a seventh away win.

Team news

Plymouth boss Ian Foster made four changes last week and was rewarded with a luckless 1-1 draw at Blackburn, a match they should have won.

With no new injuries, Foster could be tempted to name an unchanged side.

Preston midfielder Ben Whiteman picked up a serious injury against Stoke, so Ryan Ledson will presumably make his first start since the 1-1 draw at Millwall in January.

The stats

Plymouth have won only one of their last eight matches in the Championship.

The Pilgrims have failed to score in their last three home matches, have conceded at least two goals in 12 of their 18 home matches and boast the worst home defensive record in the second tier.

Preston have been drawing at half-time in 21 of their league matches this season — only Watford (24) have gone in at the break all-square more often.

A league-high 11 North End games have ended in a 2-1 or 1-2 scoreline.

Lowe’s team were unbeaten in seven in the league prior to last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat by Stoke.

Prediction

Ryan Lowe’s return to Home Park where he was a hero before jumping ship has added extra spice to a fixture that is big enough anyway.

With Plymouth spiralling towards the drop zone and Preston flirting with the play-offs, the stakes are high.

Throw in the return of Lowe, the man who got Argyle promoted to League One before joining Preston two-and-a-half years ago, and this a contest with plenty riding on it.

North End head south following a surprise 2-1 home defeat by Stoke but they had been on a good run before that.

Plymouth, meanwhile, have started to lose their way, especially at home which is usually where they are seen in their best light.

It will be a physical battle because Preston are a strong team but Plymouth will be positive and they have goals in them.

Eighteen-goal Morgan Whittaker is their main threat but 12-goal centre-forward Ryan Hardie, the top-scoring Scot in the top two divisions, is preferred at a bigger price to open the scoring.

Back Ryan Hardie first scorer at 5/1 with LiveScore Bet.

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