Plymouth Argyle will be looking to spring a surprise by beating Charlton Athletic at The Valley on Saturday.

The winless Pilgrims are bottom of the table in League One while seventh-placed Charlton are coming off three consecutive victories.

So it is no wonder that pundits are making Charlton such strong favourites to beat Argyle.

TACTICS

With Charlton in such good form, Argyle will not want to give them an extra encouragement by conceding an early goal.

That has been a problem for the Pilgrims, though, at the start of this season.

They conceded early goals in the recent league defeats by Peterborough United, Portsmouth and Blackpool and there was no coming back for them from that.

So you cannot imagine Argyle being too expansive with their play at The Valley, certainly not until the second half.

If they are still on level terms by, say, the hour mark then the game will become more open and the Pilgrims can look to exploit that, either through counter attacks or set pieces in the opposition half.

That was an approach which almost paid off in Argyle’s last away game, the 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers a fortnight ago.

Had it not been for a stunning save by Rovers’ goalkeeper Jack Bonham, or a glaring miss by Antoni Sarcevic the Pilgrims would have won that game.

Argyle lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation at the Memorial Stadium and it would be no surprise if they did the same again at Charlton, with Graham Carey playing off striker Freddie Ladapo.

As for Charlton, they are without a number of players because of injury.

The latest addition to their casualty list is centre-back Patrick Bauer, who will be out for two months because of a knee ligament injury.

Nicky Ajose, Krystian Bielik, Billy Clarke and Darren Pratley are also sidelined, while Tariqe Fosu completes a three-match suspension after he was sent-off in a 2-1 win at Southend United.

Joe Aribo is a dangerous attacking threat from midfield for Charlton while, up front, Lyle Taylor has already scored five goals in eight games since his summer move from AFC Wimbledon.

POSSIBLE LINE-UPS

Argyle (4-4-1-1): Macey; Riley, Edwards, Wootton, Sawyer; Sarcevic, O’Keefe, Songo’o, J Grant; Carey; Ladapo.

Charlton (4-4-2): Steer; Solly, Saby, Pearce, Page; Cullen, Reeves, Aribo, Ward; Taylor, Grant.

DEREK ADAMS ON CHARLTON

“They have started the season well. They got a good victory last week away to Bradford.

“We have to be mindful of them. We have to deal with their threat, but they will have to deal with the threat that we have got to try to cause them.

“Lyle Taylor is a very good striker. We have tried to sign him in the past but it has not been possible.

“He’s one that has done very well in League Two and in League One.”

MATCH OFFICIALS

Dean Whitestone is in his 13th season as an EFL referee. He has shown 26 yellow cards and sent-off two players in seven games this term.

The assistant referees will be Paul Yates and Gareth Viccars. The fourth official will be Matty Buonassisi.

Lewis Page opened the scoring for Charlton against Argyle last season with this stunning long-range shot
Lewis Page opened the scoring for Charlton against Argyle last season with this stunning long-range shot

LAST TIME

Argyle were beaten 2-0 by Charlton at The Valley on March 24, 2017 in a battle of two teams trying to secure a League One play-off place.

Both of Charlton’s goals came in the opening 17 minutes, including a spectacular long-range shot from left-back Lewis Page.

THE ODDS

Charlton are the 4/5 favourites to win this match with EFL title sponsors Sky Bet. Argyle are 18/5 to come out on top and the draw is 5/2.