Our prediction for this League 1 match:
High-flying Plymouth will look to extend their brilliant winning run in League One to six games when they take on Bristol Rovers on Matchday 15. The Pilgrims look unstoppable at the moment, and they are likely to stick to their attacking style of play. A man to watch in the away team will be Ireland midfielder Finn Azaz, who scored a brace in a 4-1 crushing of MK Dons, while Dan Scarr is in the middle of his three-game ban.
The Pirates, on the other hand, have found their best form of late, with the team winning each of their last three league fixtures. Bristol Rovers aim to move closer to the playoffs berth, and given their improvement up front, over 2.5 goals betting option should be considered. Plymouth defenders should have Wales international Aaron Collins at bay, who has netted eight goals so far this term, while providing six assists for his teammates.
Highlighted Player (Glenn Whelan):
Probably one of the most underrated footballers in Premier League history, Glenn Whelan was born on 13 January 1982 in Dublin and he went on to enjoy a very successful career on club and international level.
Following spells with Manchester City, Bury and Sheffield Wednesday, the defensive midfielder found his peace at the Britannia Stadium, making over 250 Premier League appearances for Stoke City and keeping his place in the side under both Tony Pulis and Mark Hughes. Predominantly focused on doing the dirty defensive work and helping out the back four, Whelan never quite made the headlines for his style of play or quality of his displays, but remained an important player for both club and country.
The midfielder has so far made over 70 appearances for the Republic of Ireland national team, wearing the captain’s armband on several occasions, and starting all three group games at the Euro 2012 finals, while helping The Green Army qualify for the Euro 2016 as well.
Highlighted Team (Plymouth):
Nicknamed the Pilgrims, Plymouth are a professional football club that host their rivals at Home Park. The stadium, which can hold up to 18,600 people, was built in 1892 and opened the following year. Plymouth footballers wear dark green jerseys and white shorts when playing in front of home fans, while light green and white are the dominant colours of their away kit.
The Pilgrims made it to the FA Cup semi-finals in the 1983-84 season, with the team advancing to the Football League Cup semis on two occasions (1964-65, 1973-74). The Pilgrims recorded their biggest win against Millwall on January 16, 1932, with the team beating the Lions 8-1, and they repeated the success in 1994 as they rolled over Hartlepool United in the Second Division.
The club suffered their heaviest defeat against Stoke City (0-9) on December 17, 1960. Fellow Devon teams Exeter City and Torquay United are seen as the club’s fiercest rivals.