Plymouth Argyle vs Hearts predictions as the two teams begin their pre-season schedule with a friendly clash at the Marbella Football Centre in Spain on Thursday evening. Read on for all our free betting tips and predictions.
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Match Live Thursday, 6h July at 6:00 pm In:
Plymouth Argyle vs Hearts Predictions
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An Unanticipated Pre-Season Thriller Beckons
Key Stats
– Hearts’ ball possession averaged 54.1% last season, highlighting their midfield control capabilities.
– The last pre-season meeting between the two teams in 2009 ended in a 0-0 draw, pointing towards their defensive sturdiness.
As the pre-season preparation kicks off in full swing, Plymouth Argyle and Hearts are geared up to cross swords in a friendly encounter at the Marbella Football Centre in Spain this Thursday evening. While Plymouth is readying themselves for an exciting return to the Championship, Hearts are bracing themselves for their third consecutive stint in the Scottish Premiership. Given the similar trajectories and differing circumstances of the teams, this encounter could culminate in an exhilarating match, leaving fans at the edge of their seats.
Plymouth Argyle: The Victorious Underdogs
Four years removed from their triumphant League Two title, Plymouth find themselves competing in the English football’s second tier. They astonishingly outshone rivals Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday to secure a staggering 101 points from their 46 league matches, consequently crowning them as the League One champions last season.
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Their journey to this triumph was steered by Steven Schumacher, the deserving League One Manager of the Season, whose keen tactics and inspiring leadership led Plymouth back to the Championship after a 13-year hiatus. The 39-year-old is gearing up to sculpt a squad that can withhold the challenge of the second-tier in the 2023-24 season.
The Pilgrims have been putting their bodies to the test since their return from the summer break, with a warm-weather training session in Marbella under Schumacher’s stringent guidance. Their last encounter with Hearts in a pre-season match back in 2009 culminated in a 0-0 draw, an event they are eager not to replicate this time around.
Hearts: The Stalwarts Facing Transition
Meanwhile, Hearts had to contend with a fourth-place finish in the Scottish Premiership last season, having accrued seven fewer points than the previous campaign. This was a slight setback, given their impressive third-place finish in the 2021-22 season. A dismal streak of just two wins in their last 11 matches led to Robbie Neilson’s departure from the managerial helm, marking the end of his three-year reign at Tynecastle.
Steven Naismith took the reins in a temporary capacity and has been since designated the club’s technical director. However, owing to his lack of a UEFA Pro Licence, Hearts cannot assign Naismith as a manager or head coach. He will kickstart his licensing process next year, but in the interim, he is preparing Hearts for pre-season matches against Plymouth, Dunfermline Athletic, Dunbar United, and Leeds United.
The Anticipated Showdown: A Lively Affair
The upcoming friendly match between Plymouth and Hearts presents an intriguing clash of two evenly-matched sides, given their comparable form and team compositions. With these factors at play, an entertaining score draw, specifically a 2-2 standoff, seems to be on the cards.
Plymouth’s offensive prowess, evidenced by an average of 1.8 goals per game and a commendable tally of 82 goals last season, suggests a capacity to put a couple past the Hearts’ defense. Their solid ball possession, averaging 54.7%, also indicates a strong possibility of dominating the field.
On the other hand, Hearts, with an average of 1.7 goals per game and a total of 63 goals last season, also possess the attacking potential to breach Plymouth’s defence twice. Their similar ball possession average of 54.1% means they could hold their own in the midfield battle.
These statistics illuminate the potential of an exciting and balanced contest, fueling the possibility of an entertaining draw, also considering that both teams are at the start of their preparation and will rotate players during the match.
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