How many points Plymouth Argyle will need to survive if they win, lose, or draw vs Middlesbrough
There are significant stakes for both teams at opposite ends of the table when Plymouth Argyle and Middlesbrough play one other on Friday afternoon.
Middlesbrough dropped to ninth place in the Championship standings following a 1-0 loss to Millwall the last time out.
With a five-point goal differential advantage over their play-off rivals, Boro is still only three points outside the top six, though, courtesy to Coventry City’s draw with Hull City on Monday.
Meanwhile, Plymouth Argyle is once again battling to stay in the Championship at the opposite end of the table.
Although the Greens are still at the bottom of the division, they have a chance to stay up thanks to two victories and a draw from their past four games.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Diff | Points |
| 20 |  |
42 | 11 | 12 | 19 | 41 | 50 | -9 | 45 |
| 21 |  |
42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 44 | 54 | -10 | 43 |
| 22 |  |
42 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 45 | 66 | -21 | 42 |
| 23 |  |
42 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 37 | 63 | -26 | 40 |
| 24 |  |
42 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 44 | 82 | -38 | 40 |
In light of this, we have examined what Plymouth will require in order to make a comeback, contingent on their performance against Middlesbrough.
How many points Plymouth Argyle need to stay up if they beat Middlesbrough
We estimate that 48 points is sufficient to prevent Championship relegation based on the facts at hand.
Plymouth is currently in 40th place, three points behind 21st-place Derby County and five behind Hull City, going into their matchup with Boro.
23rd place Cardiff City is currently two points clear of Luton Town, who are likewise on 40 points with a higher goal differential.
Conversely, if Plymouth defeats Michael Carrick’s team, they will need five points from their final three games to achieve 48 points with just four games left in the season already.
Plymouth has picked up seven in their last four games, so it is definitely achievable.
How many points Plymouth Argyle need to stay up if they draw with Middlesbrough
The Greens’ situation starts to grow much more difficult at this stage; if they are held to a draw by the Teessiders, they would only have 41 points.
They would then need seven points from three games, which would require them to go unbeaten.
Although it is still possible, Plymouth’s season as a whole makes it appear quite unlikely that they will avoid losing three straight games.
How many points Plymouth Argyle need to stay up if they lose to Middlesbrough
Finally, if Middlesbrough defeats Plymouth, they can essentially bid farewell to their hopes of escaping relegation.
To get to 48 points, they would need to win three straight games, which would obviously require them to accumulate eight points from three games.
Not once in 2024–2025 has Plymouth accomplished that, and they haven’t even won two straight games.