Plymouth Argyle vs Middlesbrough Prediction: Away side can add to Rooney’s misery

Wayne Rooney is coming under increased pressure at Plymouth Argyle as his side slide towards the foot of the Championship table. The Greens have now lost their last four games in a row while their last win came on Bonfire Night. With Christmas less than a week away, you can see why they now sit 23rd in the league. 

They do have a home game to try and end that winless run however, as they welcome Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough to Home Park on Saturday at 15:00. Boro are looking to maintain their promotion push as they face the long trip down south, and below you will find my Plymouth Argyle vs Middlesbrough predictions. 

Team News

Plymouth boss Rooney has confirmed that four of his key stars will remain absent until January. Morgan Whittaker, captain Joe Edwards and loan duo Ibrahim Cissoko and Muhamed Tijani are the absent quartet, with Whittaker, Edwards and Cissoko arguably the Pilgrims three most important players.

It has left Rooney in a difficult position, and that was made even tougher at Swansea when 18-year-old Freddie Issaka withdrew late on with illness. He recovered to play 10 minutes against Sheffield United and could start this one, while I’d also expect Andre Gray and Callum Wright to come into the starting XI. 

Ryan Hardie started up top at Bramall Lane, with Lewis Gibson and Adam Randell putting in top performances. Despite their 2-0 defeat it was an improved away showing, so Rooney will want to build on that and get some more points on the board. 

Emmanuel Latte Lath’s goal for Middlesbrough in their 1-0 success over Millwall should be enough to keep him in the XI ahead of Tommy Conway, while Carrick has also received a boost in defence in recent weeks. Rav van den Berg came back into the team at centre-back against Millwall and performed exceptionally well alongside George Edmundson, as Matt Clarke and Dael Fry were left out. 

Darragh Lenihan is also now expected to return to the squad, adding more competition to the back four. On the injury front, Aidan Morris and Alex Bangura remain out, while Tommy Smith is now edging closer to a return.

Plymouth Argyle vs Middlesbrough Odds

Plymouth are priced at 9/2 to win this game, and given they have won four of their nine home matches so far, that represents good value. Boro meanwhile can be backed at 4/9, which is a short price for them to secure their fifth away win of the campaign and gives them an implied win probability of 69%. A draw can be backed at 16/5 which would end Argyle’s losing run. 

Over 2.5 goals has come in during 55% of Plymouth games this season and can be backed at 8/15 while BTTS is 4/6. Latte Lath is the favourite to score first at 4/1 and he could add to his eight goals this term.  

Middlesbrough to win and BTTS @ 9/5

I think the away team will add to Plymouth’s woes here simply based on the attacking quality they have. Boro are one of the strongest teams in the division and they’ve created the second-highest number of xG behind Leeds United this term, with Latte Lath and Conway two top strikers at this level. 

With all of Argyle’s injuries, I just can’t see them keeping Boro at bay, but I will back them to find the net in defeat. Plymouth have scored 16 goals in their nine home games in 2024/25, which is the same number as Sheffield United and Boro have scored in their home fixtures. Scoring goals isn’t an issue at Home Park, but their weak defence could cost them once more.

Middlesbrough to score over 2.5 goals @ 6/4

Along the same lines here. I think Boro can tear apart most teams at this level, and when you combine an attack as potent as theirs with a defence as shoddy as Plymouth’s, it should mean goals. Latte Lath should be able to fill his boots while Carrick’s style of play should mean there is no let up from the away side. 

Norwich, Bristol City, Preston and Cardiff have all scored at least three goals against Argyle this season, and Boro are a better attacking team than that quartet. Goals are on the way this Christmas! 

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