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– Plymouth are in 21st place – one point clear of bottom three
– Rotherham will be relegated unless they win
– Recommended bet: Plymouth to win
After sacking head coach Ian Foster on Monday, Plymouth are in desperate need of three points when they head to rock-bottom Rotherham on Friday.
The Pilgrims have placed director of football Neil Dewsnip in temporary charge of team affairs and they are just one place above the drop zone ahead of their trip to South Yorkshire.
An Argyle win would boost their chances of survival with the home straight looming and put pressure on their relegation rivals, who are all in action on Saturday.
Meanwhile, only a win will do for hosts Rotherham if they are to prolong their stay in the second tier. Leam Richardson’s side are bottom with six games to go and are 18 points adrift of Plymouth, who occupy the spot outside of the relegation zone.
Relegation has seemed inevitable for the Millers for some time but their dramatic 2-1 win at home to Millwall on Easter Monday preserved their second-tier status for a few days yet.
Team news
Striker Charlie Wyke scored Rotherham’s winner against Millwall after coming off the bench and is pushing for a start. Tom Eaves could be the man to make way for Wyke.
Cafu and Shane Ferguson are among the others pushing for recalls after also coming on against the Lions but Christ Tiehi, Jordan Hugill, Peter Kioso, Sean Morrison, Tyler Blackett, Grant Hall and Andre Green remain on the injury list.
For the visitors, Alfie Devine is suspended after being sent off against Bristol City on Monday but they have no reported fresh injuries.
Julio Pleguezuelo, Joe Edwards, Mickel Miller and Mustapha Bundu are all options to come into the Plymouth side if Dewsnip opts to ring the changes.
The stats
Rotherham have picked up four points from their last three games but have won only four times in the league all season.
Argyle have lost their last three games and six of their last seven overall in the Championship.
The reverse fixture at Home Park finished 3-2 to Plymouth, for whom Morgan Whittaker scored a last-minute winner.
Rotherham have won six of the last nine meetings between the two sides, but there is an 18-point gap between them this term, with the Millers on just 23 points after 40 games and Argyle on 41 for the campaign.
Prediction
Plymouth look solid enough value at 19/20 to win against the division’s worst team and one who ultimately know they are destined for League One.
The visitors’ main aim in the remainder of the campaign is to ensure they do not end up joining the Millers in the third tier next season but their recent form is a real cause for concern.
However, Plymouth edged out the Millers at home back in December and another victory, possibly by just a one-goal margin again, looks to be on the cards.
