"It’s looking pretty terminal" - EFL pundit issues Plymouth Argyle relegation verdict | OneFootball

The Pilgrims have six points to make up in the remaining eight games if they are going to remain in the Championship this season

EFL pundit George Elek has outlined his fears for Plymouth Argyle in the battle against relegation in the Championship this season, and fears the Pilgrims’ race could be run in the second tier.

Miron Muslic’s side suffered a damaging 3-2 defeat to fellow strugglers Derby County on Saturday, with Marcus Harness’ brace making all the difference in an enthralling encounter at Home Park.

That leaves them six points from safety with eight matches remaining once we return from the international break, while a vastly inferior goal difference will likely need them to pick up a further point if they do close the gap.

With that in mind, Elek struggles to see a way out for the Devon side between now and the end of the season, with the form of teams around them adding to their woes.

George Elek makes glum Plymouth Argyle relegation prediction

Argyle’s defeat at the hands of County made it just one win form their last seven league outings, and saw them lose ground on a direct rival in the battle to avoid the drop.

After Harness’ first of the afternoon had put the visitors ahead, Harrison Armstrong’s sweet strike doubled the Rams’ advantage with less than half an hour on the clock.

Mustapha Bundu’s sublime free-kick reduced the arrears before Nat Phillips’ own goal saw the scores levelled seconds after the restart, only for the defensive line to undo all that good work by allowing Harness to grab the winner late on.

With John Eustace’s side winning three on the bounce and showing no signs of slowing down, Elek revealed his worry for the Greens as we take a break from domestic action, with results showing no sign of picking up anytime soon.

“It is too early - as Derby have shown - to rule out any of these teams, and it does feel like Argyle’s surprising win in midweek away at Pompey has just about kept them in it.

“But it’s looking pretty terminal for Argyle, you have to say. In part, it is because there is a six-point gap to Cardiff, but there is also the fact that Luton and Derby sit between them.

“So not only is there a six-point gap to cover, but you also have to overtake three sides in order to escape, and it just feels relatively unlikely to me.

“Especially because their home form seems to have dipped, which is where they have been most successful for the most part, albeit away wins, such as the one at Pompey, do help.”

George Elek voices Derby County international break quandary

As mentioned, Derby are the team to be feared at the bottom of the division right now, with three successive victories putting the Rams just one point from safety as it stands.

Cardiff City and Stoke City sit in the perilous positions above them looking over their shoulder, while Hull City have a three-point buffer, and Oxford United and Portsmouth have four.

After overcoming Blackburn Rovers and Coventry City before the Home Park heroics, Eustace has started to weave his magic since taking over the club last month, with their survival chances as realistic as they have looked for some time.

The challenge now will be for County to return from the international break with that same gusto that they entered the hiatus with, as Preston North End, Swansea City and Burnley all lie in wait once domestic football returns.

Elek voiced his concerns regarding the fallow fortnight: “For Derby, the three consecutive wins is huge, whether or not they can maintain it we will have to see.

“It feels to me like this international break is coming at a bad time for the likes of Derby and maybe Cardiff, and a good time for Stoke and Oxford.

“For Derby, they just want to keep playing games now, we saw the scenes in front of the away end as Marcus Harness scored the winner at Home Park, and they would have wanted to go out and play again two hours later.

“They have got to keep this incredible winning feeling going, and to have an enforced two-week break now is not ideal in that respect. It is going to be tough to maintain that kind of level.”