Leeds United will be eyeing a spot in the fifth round of the FA Cup when they take on Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night.
Leeds United and Plymouth Argyle are set to renew their battle at Home Park in a highly-anticipated all Championship FA Cup fourth-round replay. The initial clash ended in a hard-fought 1-1 draw, leaving both teams with another opportunity to reprise their battle for a a spot in the quarter-finals.
The winner will be poised to face the victor of the replay between Chelsea and Aston Villa, adding an extra layer of significance to this encounter. With Leeds also eyeing promotion to their Premier League, facing off against teams from the top flight could give them an idea of where they stand.
But then it would be too presumptuous to assume Plymouth will just roll over. The Pilgrims will be keen to earn themselves a spot in the Last Eight and will also have home support to boot. Knocking out Leeds United will be a moment to savour for a side who are rather dangerous on their day.
Leeds United, currently eyeing a top-two finish in the EFL Championship, may prioritise league success. But a successful run in the FA Cup could provide the momentum they need. While they enter the replay as favourites, Plymouth Argyle has already proven to be a formidable opponent, pushing Leeds close in their encounters this season.
Daniel Farke’s side will need to bring their A-game to avoid being caught off guard by a Plymouth team that, having distanced themselves from the relegation zone, can afford to go all out and enjoy the FA Cup challenge. The Green Army has the opportunity to capitalize on their recent positive form and prove that they can stand toe-to-toe with one of the Championship’s strongest sides.
The winner will not only secure a place in the fifth round but also set the stage for a potential clash with Premier League giants, adding an extra layer of excitement to an already intriguing replay. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Plymouth Argyle
The home side have no major injuries to be worried about and can call upon their best players for the night. However, Darko Gyabi is not allowed to face his parent club and will miss out. Lino Sousa was not registered on time and will also miss out.
To add to Ian Forster’s frustrations, new signings Alfie Devine and Adam Forshaw are also ineligible due to being cup-tied in the FA Cup. Plymouth Argyle have impressed under their new boss and are yet to experience defeat under his tutelage. In fact, the Pilgrims have secured three wins and two draws in Forster’s tenure across all competitions.
The Pilgrims will be keen to go as deep as they can in the FA Cup. With nothing else to play for this season, it makes sense for them to go all out. A 3-4-2-1 formation appears to be the way forward, with Conor Hazard in between the sticks.
Having secured their first away win of the season against Swansea City at the weekend, Plymouth Argyle are expected to retain their back three of Ashley Phillips, Lewis Gibson and Brendan Galloway.
Bali Mumba and Mickel Miller should offer the width from wing-back, with Adam Randell and Jordan Houghton holding the centre. Morgan Whittaker and Callum Wright should play the number 10 roles with Ryan Hardie leading the line up front.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Hazard; Phillips, Gibson, Galloway; Mumba, Randell, Houghton, Miller; Whittaker, Wright; Hardie
Leeds United
Daniel Farke has several injury concerns, with the likes of Stuart Dallas, Pascal Struijk and Karl Darlow unavailable. Connor Roberts is also ineligible after Leeds failed to register him in time for the clash.
Leeds United are likely to rotate their squad with their priority being the EFL Championship. The Yorkshire side are in the midst of a good run of results and it remains to be seen how Farke opts to rotate his players around.
The visitors are likely to keep their 4-2-3-1 formation. Illan Meslier should start in goal, with the quartet of Jamie Shackleton, Joe Rodon, Ethan Ampadu, and Junior Firpo forming the rearguard.
Ilia Gruev and Glen Kamara should form the double pivot, with Wilfried Gnonto, Georginio Rutter, and Jaidon Anthony forming the attacking midfield. An out-of-sorts Joel Piroe should lead the line as he aims to rediscover his best form.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Meslier; Shackleton, Ampadu, Rodon, Firpo; Gruev, Kamara; Gnonto, Rutter, Anthony; Piroe
Key Stats
- Plymouth Argyle have not defeated Leeds United in their last ten meetings across all competitions, with the most recent win coming in 1989.
- Leeds United have won all three of their trips to Plymouth Argyle in the 21st century.
- Plymouth Argyle has only advanced beyond the fourth round of the FA Cup twice in the club’s 138-year-old history.
- Both teams have faced off in the FA Cup just twice before. First in 1972-73 where Leeds won 2-1 and the original fixture this season that ended 1-1, forcing this replay.
- A win on the night will see Leeds United win consecutive away games in the FA Cup for the first time this century.
Player to Watch
Joel Piroe
The summer signing is going through a poor run of form at the moment but will get another opportunity to earn his stripes in the FA Cup. With Patrick Bamford likely to be rested, Piroe will hope to make the most of his opportunity.
The 24-year-old is a handful on his day and will want to rediscover his rhythm soon. An early goal will boost not just his confidence but also improve Leeds’s chances of putting their opponents to bed.
Prediction
Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Leeds United (Plymouth to win in extra time)
While Leeds United have the stronger squad, Plymouth Argyle will be keen to give their fans something to celebrate. It should prove to be a hard-fought game, with the home side holding the edge and getting more stuck in.
Given that they have nothing more to play for, Plymouth Argyle are likely to give it their all. The game is likely top end in a stalemate at the end of regular time, with the home team seizing the initiative in extra time.