Preston North End v Plymouth Argyle

The Championship league leaders welcome the Pilgrims to Deepdale on Saturday afternoon as Ryan Lowe reunites with his former club

The Pilgrims will make the long trip up north this coming Saturday to take on Preston North End and Lowe, who sit top of the Championship table after 13 points from their opening five fixtures.

What is the latest team news for Preston North End v Plymouth Argyle?

Preston North End will be hoping to welcome back some of their senior players that haven't featured so far this season through being on the sidelines.

Creative midfielder Ben Whiteman hasn't been seen since April after picking up an end of season injury, before then undergoing hernia surgery during pre-season.

Having had a setback or two in his recovery, Whiteman is back in full training and so is Robbie Brady, with the left wing-back picking up a calf problem in pre-season that has kept him out since.

The Irishman could be back though for the visit of Argyle, but Ched Evans is expected to be out a while longer as he continues recovering from neck surgery.

There was hope that Danish striker Emil Riis would make his belated return from a knee injury, having been on the shelf since the start of January, but he was not spotted in contact training in the last few days and he could be waiting a while longer for his comeback.

Lowe is also sweating on the fitness of talisman Will Keane, who was injured on international duty for the Republic of Ireland in the last few days.

Keane has scored four goals already this season but an adductor issue could sideline him, meaning Montenegro international Milutin Osmajic may have to go straight into the starting 11 should his visa be granted in time following his move from Cadiz on transfer deadline day.

Plymouth latest team news

Still without star goalkeeper Michael Cooper, who suffered a serious knee injury back in February.

Defender Macaulay Gillesphy is back fit following a groin issue in pre-season, whilst Brendan Galloway is yet to make an appearance this season either as he steps up his recovery from a leg injury.

Left-back Saxon Earley is also now on the sidelines with ankle ligament damage, but aside from that there are seemingly no fresh injury blows going into Saturday's contest.

The Game

Preston North End manager Ryan Lowe will go up against some familiar faces on Saturday - and he has watched plenty of Plymouth Argyle ahead of the Deepdale encounter.

Lowe left the Pilgrims to take on the PNE job in December 2021. His old club went on to win the League One title the following campaign and return to the Championship for the first time in 13 years. And it’s Plymouth who await for Preston after the international break, with the promoted side set to make the long trip up to Lancashire.

North End’s boss will share the touchline with one of his ‘best mates’ - Steven Schumacher having turned down the chance to follow Lowe to Deepdale and remain as his assistant. Plymouth offered Schumacher the role and he went on to finish the job he and Lowe started together at Home Park. Preston’s boss has been pleased to see his former coach succeed and knows what’s in store this weekend.

“As far as Schuey goes, he has done unbelievable,” said Lowe on the EFL Podcast. “Did I see that in him? Yeah, of course. He was a top assistant manager and a top coach, and he has took the club to a different level. They are waiting for us; on the way. Us being top of the league for that game, they are going to want to come and showcase what they can do.

“They have been fantastic. I have watched a lot of the games already, because I'm supporting Schuey when we are not playing them. They are going to be a tough team to beat, because as you have seen already they will win games of football. A lot of people may have had them down to be relegated; not a chance. I see them finishing minimum mid-table... they are a good little outfit."

Gavin Ward has been named as the referee

Ward has shown 20 yellow cards in five games this season with four of them in the Championship

His assistant referees will be Adam Crysell and Greg Read, with Andrew Kitchen the fourth official.

Mustapha Bundu has got his Work Permit and may feature in the match day squad for Preston.

Just waiting for media to blow up a kind of frenzy for this one billing it the master v the apprentice bollox or some kind of pep v artea crap as well ….it’s well known I wasn’t a big fan of Lowe in fact never liked the prick from day one & never bought into bollox like some fans did he was always gunna treat us as a stepping stone and what came out of his mouth was pure shit ..that’s why I’d luv it we went up there and beat em luv it ( copyright Kevin keegan a le fergie) Anyway…now to the game on form there buzzing at the moment PNE and will be expected by the media and so called pundits a easy 3pts …but take us at you peril cos we’re got enough if everybody’s on there game to win this and I fancy us strongly us to win it by a odd goal ..COYG UTBA

Whatever the result, Lowe will say:

"I thought we deserved 3 pts today, the lads gave 100%, I'm proud of them" like he did after every Argyle game

And PNE will play 5-3-2 as Lowe doesn't know any other way or have a plan B (So different from Stevie S who is great at turning game around with the changes he makes.)

With a bit of luck Lowe might even repeat some of his results from his HP days and lose by 5 or 6 goals at home!

Beating Preston will be massive.

We have been informed by Preston North End that they will allow tickets to be bought on the day of Saturday's game.

Supporters will be able to buy tickets from the Away Ticket Office at Deepdale, from 1pm.

For more information on ticket prices for this game, click here. There will be no on-the-day increase.

Collections
If you were unable to collect an already-purchased match ticket Home Park Ticket Office, collections on the day will be from the Away Ticket Office from 1pm. ID will be required.

Postage
If you have paid for postage and tickets have not arrived by midday on Friday, 15 September, please call or email the Home Park Ticket Office by 4pm on Friday for us to be able to arrange duplicates for collection on the day. ID will be required for collection.

I am going for 1-1. It's got that sort of feel to it.


Bristol Shitty away is where I think we will get three points and I will be there to hopefully witness it.

VillageGreen wrote:

I am going for 1-1. It's got that sort of feel to it.

Agree

i placing a side bet that the green army will sing that ryan lowe we dont give a feck song that they are still singing today ffs without updating the lyrics many many many times and ryan doesnt acknowledge them.

All together now....

Schuey is our leader
He's bleeding green and white
etc etc

Hard fought 1-1

PNE 1 Argo 0

Angry wrote:

i placing a side bet that the green army will sing that ryan lowe we dont give a feck song that they are still singing today ffs without updating the lyrics many many many times and ryan doesnt acknowledge them.

should use a different song & lyrics altogether to somethink simple like ..RYAN LOWES A WANKER LA LA LA LA LA LA RYAN LOWES A WANKER ..maybe lol

RegGreen wrote:

Angry wrote:

i placing a side bet that the green army will sing that ryan lowe we dont give a feck song that they are still singing today ffs without updating the lyrics many many many times and ryan doesnt acknowledge them.

should use a different song & lyrics altogether to somethink simple like ..RYAN LOWES A WANKER LA LA LA LA LA LA RYAN LOWES A WANKER ..maybe lol

yeah something new something different that doesnt need schuey brought into it every time i had hope once we won the league one (remember that lads cause the club sure down played it by leaving the trophy of the team photo nor showed it off at home park first game of the season but anyways) they would have moved on with that song or at least updated the lyrics to obmit lowe and celebrate our club and schuey instead but no they didnt lol i shouldnt be shocked by that the blocks 3-4 and 17 have no imagination when it comes to songs they steal of other clubs.

Argyle have made two changes from the side that beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 last time out, with Mickel Miller in for Joe Edwards and Luke Cundle replacing Adam Randell in the Greens' midfield.

Argyle: 21 Conor Hazard (gk), 2 Bali Mumba, 4 Jordan Houghton (capt), 5 Julio Pleguezuelo,

9 Ryan Hardie, 10 Morgan Whittaker, 14 Mickel Miller, 17 Lewis Gibson, 18 Finn Azaz, 28 Luke Cundle,

29 Kaine Kesler-Hayden. Substitutes: 25 Callum Burton (gk), 6 Dan Scarr, 7 Matt Butcher,

8 Joe Edwards, 11 Callum Wright, 16 Lewis Warrington, 19 Tyreik Wright, 20 Adam Randell, 23 Ben Waine.

1 down already.  Think we're going to get seriously mullered.

1-0! Down 45seconds

i guess they arent as shite as the song says

2-0

One of the really big hammerings of the seasons coming

Yesssssssssssss hardie the comebacks on

we seem to be giving it a good go to get the equalizer but as the radio guy says when we go forward preston hit us on the counter.... so this game is either going to end 2-2 or 3-1 to preston.

Another game with us being the better side for most of the game but coming away with nothing. Dreadful start, giving the ball away in dangerous areas led to 2 goals, always going to be a struggle from there, but again we came back, played some great football and got the goal after cutting through their defence.

But, not to be we couldn't get the equalizer. Becoming a bit of a pattern now, we can't keep doing this.

Preston weren't great, but they did defend very well.

Another fooking hard luck story by the sound of it-more possession,more shots,more corners but less goals. Another early goal conceded, sounds a very similar story to Birmingham-Argyle are almost Southamptonish in their ability to concede early on. Someone MUST step up to the plate from other areas of the team and support Hardie,he isn't going to score every week and unfair to expect him to. Getting a bit worried about his value in the transfer market now-won't be short of interest from bigger fish in the sea with the sort of record he's compiling.

Oh well, on to the next game at Bristol Shitty and a west country derby, with bragging rights to claim.

We can't go on playing well but not getting points. I think it may be time to revert to the formation that was successful last season

Grovehill wrote:

We can't go on playing well but not getting points.  I think it may be time to revert to the formation that was  successful last season

It wasn't successful away from home against the other top 5 clubs, Argyle took 2 points from those games with a goal difference of 3 for,9 against.