Similar to Pompey, the Pilgrims are currently dealing with an injury crisis of sorts. The list of absentees is growing, and most recently it was revealed that joint-top-scorer Ibrahim Cissoko would be sidelined. He joins Joe Edwards in being ruled out for the rest of 2024, forcing Wayne Rooney must make do with what he’s got.
The two sides find themselves in the relegation zone, with Plymouth without a win in four games, suffering three defeats. What bodes well for the hosts, though, is they are unbeaten against Pompey in their past seven league games, so you have to go back to September 2018 for the last time the Blues took maximum points off of them.
Home Park is not a happy hunting ground for Pompey as they've lost in their past two league visits to Devon, and are winless in six there. The last time Pompey won at Plymouth's ground was in August 2015.
Plymouth's away form has been letting them down this season, but at home they've lost just one of their past nine league matches there. Pompey don’t tend to win their midweek fixtures, either, this season as outings against Stoke and Cardiff prove.
A win for Pompey this evening would at least take them above Plymouth, but QPR are also playing tonight as well. Pompey’s one and only win this season came on their travels, and so there will be a hope that John Mousinho’s men can put in a performance like they did at Loftus Road to bring the three points back to PO4.
With a double game week, both manager’s will be faced with the test of keeping everyone fit ahead of their weekend games and so changes could be made. Here’s the injury situation for both clubs ahead of kick-off.
13. Joe Edwards - out
Edwards seemed to tweak his hamstring against Preston and was replaced Julio Pleguezuelo. The injury was a serious one and the 34-year-old is now expected to be out for the rest of the year. Photo: Adam Davy
14. Lewis Gibson - out
Gibson has missed the last few games through a thigh injury sustained in the midweek defeat at Millwall. The 24-year-old set to be out until after the November international break. Photo: Robbie Stephenson
15. Brendan Galloway - out
Galloway suffered an ankle injury representing Zimbabwe during the international break. The 28-year-old is looking at four to six weeks out. Photo: Cameron Smith
16. Conor Hazard - out
Had ankle surgery in September following an injury blow against Stoke City and the Northern Ireland international custodian was thought to be facing around 12 weeks out. Photo: Ed Sykes