Plymouth Argyle Vs Bristol Rovers Betting: Both Teams to Score – 17 December 2019

Can Plymouth seal progression at Home Park?

Alex Palmer/Plymouth Argyle ©imago images / PA Images 16.12.2019

Plymouth Argyle V Bristol Rovers

Tuesday 17th December 2019 – 19:30 Kick-Off
English FA Cup Replay
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 5/7
Bookmaker: MoPlay
England FA Cup Betting at 22Bet

(All betting odds displayed were correct at the time of writing: 15th December 2019 at 00:40)

Preview: A late missed penalty from Plymouth has resulted in a replay being required to determine which of these teams faces Coventry City in the FA Cup Third Round. Can Bristol Rovers seize upon a fortuitous second chance or will Home Park carry the hosts to victory?

 

Plymouth Argyle Preview – Pilgrims can take heart from original display?

The League Two club could have spared themselves the trouble of this replay, thus reducing their workload over a hectic festive period. Falling behind midway through the second half, Antonoi Sarcevic had already converted one penalty to draw Plymouth Argyle level when he was presented with another shortly after, only this time the midfielder was to be denied after seeing his poor effort saved by the goalkeeper.

How costly will that miss from 12-yards prove to be? Sarcevic was full of remorse post-match, even going as far as admitting he had issued an apology to his team-mates. Clearly he cares, and so must the players for the player to feel an apology was in order for an error that almost every spot-kick taker has been guilty of at least once in their careers. Argyle were also awarded a penalty in their 3-0 win at home to Morecambe on Saturday, which Sarcevic duly stepped up and slotted home. At 6/1 to score anytime (Betfair), the 27-year-old is handsomely priced to make amends.

The Pilgrims were arguably the better side before Bristol Rovers took the lead in the original tie, and back at Home Park manager Ryan Lowe will back his players to finally see the task at hand out. That aforementioned Morecambe triumph was their fourth in a row in front of their own supporters, three of which were without conceding. Meanwhile, they have found the back of the net in all but one of their ten home encounters in League Two this season (W6 D3 L1 overall at home), losing only to Cheltenham Town.

 

Plymouth & Both Teams to Score
7/2

Bet365

 

Bristol Rovers Preview – Superb league form gives them solid chance?

Fourth in League One and with their sights firmly set on promotion it seems, it was therefore surprising that Bristol Rovers struggled to make this superiority count in the home encounter. A 74th-minute lead was hard earned and slightly against the run of play, but lasted a mere ten minutes. It could have been so much worse, though, had it not been for the shot-stopping heroics of Anssi Jaakkola between the sticks, preventing a last-gasp penalty from breaching their goal and eliminating them from the tournament.

So, will The Pirates seize this second chance with both hands? Their recent form would certainly suggest there is every chance. Saturday’s eye-catching 2-1 win away to second-placed Ipswich Town maintained their excellent run of victories which now stands at four. Moreover, three of these were earned on the road. Therefore a trip to lower league opposition seems unlikely to phase them. Though four of their five defeats this season were incurred away from home (W5 D0 L4).

Goals have been a prominent feature of their recent encounters. Each of the previous five league fixtures produced both teams to score, as did both original FA Cup ties having also drawn 1-1 in the first round with non-league Bromley at home. The subsequent replay was won 1-0. However, with just one away clean sheet in eleven league and FA Cup games, Rovers may need to outscore the opposition yet again – as has been the case throughout their recent winning streak.

 

Plymouth Argyle Vs Bristol Rovers – Key Facts:

  • In League Two fixtures as the home side, Plymouth Argyle have lost one of ten matches (W6 D3 L1) so far this season – scoring in nine.
  • League Two side Bristol Rovers have won their last four league encounters consecutively, although all were despite conceding in all four.
  • Their original tie ended 1-1, with Plymouth coming from behind to earn a draw. Historically, Bristol Rovers have not won any competitive fixture in Plymouth since 2000 (D6 L4).

 

Betting Summary

Plymouth Argyle (7/5 coral) really ought to have put this tie to bed first time around but the fact they came so close to doing so against a team from the league above, who also happen to be in excellent form, can only reflect well on them as they prepare for a second crack back at home. The Pilgrims have lost only once as hosts in League Two so far this season, which should stand them in good stead ahead of welcoming a Bristol Rovers (21/10 Bet365) side that won its last four matches in League One.

As previously mentioned, goals have been a regular feature in games involving Bristol Rovers lately, whose previous five league fixtures produced goals for them and the opposition, winning on four occasions. Conversely, just one of Plymouth’s last seven league games seen both teams score. The Pilgrims do tend to score in most (9/10) of their home contests, though, which bodes well for them scoring here although their prospects of a clean sheet are dampened by an opponent from the league above in terrific form.