Cambridge United vs Plymouth Argyle Prediction: U's Set-Piece Edge to Test Cleverley's Side

League One Gameweek 13 brings Cambridge United and Plymouth Argyle together on 24 October 2026, with Cambridge sitting fourth on 20 points from 11 matches and Plymouth fifth on 19 from 12. Harris and Cleverley have no prior managerial history in these roles, so there is no existing template either side can fall back on as Cambridge arrive unbeaten in eight or more league outings and Plymouth come in on the back of consecutive defeats.

Cambridge arrive in good nick after a run of D W W W D, with their most recent outing ending 2-2 against Wycombe Wanderers on 20 October following a 2-1 win over Barnsley, a run that has kept them inside the automatic promotion places despite a congested schedule. Plymouth, by contrast, have taken one point from their last two games, both on the road, both without scoring, shipping a 0-3 at Stevenage on 20 October and a 0-2 at Huddersfield three days earlier. A loss here would open a seven-point gap to Cambridge.

Harris has one fitness concern with Dom Ball remaining a doubt but the rest of the Cambridge squad appears available. Cleverley faces considerably more disruption, with Michael Baidoo out until around 1 November with an Achilles tendon contusion and Malachi Boateng doubtful because of a knee ligament problem. Julio Pleguezuelo is available after recovering from his own knee issue, though the absences in central areas may still force Cleverley away from his preferred 4-4-2.

Cambridge sit in a compact 4-2-3-1 and build through Ben Knight, the division's joint top scorer on four goals, dropping between the lines to receive in space before Gassan Ahadme holds the line up top. Shayne Lavery showed at Wycombe he can arrive late into the box when it matters, giving Harris a reliable third option in the final third.

Plymouth want to impose the game rather than react to it but conceding three at Stevenage and two at Huddersfield suggests the defensive structure behind the press is not holding. Aribim Pepple, who has four to seven goals this season, is the player Cambridge need to contain, with Curtis operating on the right. Cleverley will likely need to lean on Pleguezuelo's experience at the back even with those absences in midfield, while Curtis may be asked to carry more of the attacking responsibility himself.

The battle worth watching most closely is Knight against Plymouth's midfield screen, with Ahadme's aerial duel against whoever partners Pleguezuelo in central defence running it close. If Cambridge can win second balls and keep things tight in the middle, Plymouth's press may struggle to disrupt their shape across that zone.

Cambridge's set pieces are where Harris has put clear work in and they create regular goalscoring opportunities from dead balls. Knight and Ahadme are both dangerous when Cambridge win dead balls in the final third and Plymouth will need to defend those situations carefully, particularly if Boateng's absence thins out their aerial cover. Plymouth can still hurt teams when Pepple and Curtis get in behind but the visitors need to score for the first time in three away games.

The prediction is Cambridge United 2-1 Plymouth Argyle. Cambridge's eight-game unbeaten run, their dead ball record and Plymouth's two blank away defeats all point toward a home win, with Knight's movement between the lines and Ahadme's aerial presence at set pieces the most likely route to the decisive goal. Pepple may grab a consolation late on.