Plymouth vs Barnsley

Plymouth will approach this game with quiet assurance, after taking 7 points from a possible 15 in their last 5. They have scored freely averaging 1.6 goals per game, while conceding 1.8.

As for Barnsley, their recent results tell an interesting tale. Barnsley arrive at this fixture with real wind in their sails, having picked up 10 points from their last 5 games. Averaging 1.8 goals scored per game, Barnsley's attack has misfired rarely; at the other end, 1.8 goals per game have gone in. Looking at the head-to-head record, the last 6 meetings have produced 2 Plymouth wins, 3 Barnsley wins and 1 draws. These meetings have generally delivered a steady flow of goals, averaging 2.7 goals per match.

The statistics point towards an open game here. Both teams have been involved in matches with plenty of goalmouth action recently, and the tactical setup suggests a similar pattern could emerge. Expect a closely fought contest between two evenly matched sides. The result may well come down to which team is more clinical in the final third.

Neither side can be written off, given how close their recent returns have been — it is a genuine coin-flip. The team in better form holds a slight edge, but this is far from a foregone conclusion. The stage is set in the League One; kick-off cannot come soon enough.