Next Up: The Devon Derby – Plymouth Argyle at Home

So here we are, the first instalment this season of the derby that isn’t called the “El Classico” of English Football…but if it was, it would be with good reason. When City and their rivals down the A38 find themselves in the same division, the fixture is the first the fans of both clubs look for, and the juices really start flowing in the preceding weeks once tickets are made available. That the matches themselves in recent times have had a tendency towards the underwhelming, the occasion possibly getting to the players as well as the supporters, fails to dampen the anticipation that greets every Devon Derby.

Paul Tisdale goes into this match on the back of a somewhat Jekyll and Hyde performance at Rochdale last weekend, a near-perfect first half giving way to a nervy second half that culminated in City hanging on to a 3-2 win, and has a couple of interesting selection headaches to deal with. Tom Doherty is unlikely to have recovered in time to feature, but Scot Bennett is available for selection again having missed the win at Rochdale through suspension, and he may replace Jimmy Keohane in the starting line-up. Tisdale will expect to line up with his somewhat ambitious formation with a three-pronged attack spearheaded by Cureton and O’Flynn, with Alan Gow in behind them desperate to show the Plymouth faithful what he is capable of if utilised correctly.

This week has seen Plymouth in somewhat transitional mode in the build up to the big one, confirming the appointment of John Ward, until recently at the helm at League One Colchester, as Director of Football. The more mischievous in the Football fraternity are already speculating as to when he will move “downstairs” to take over from Carl Fletcher. Having emerged from Administration and under the stewardship of James “Mr Akkeron Hotels” Brent (no relation to David, so I’m led to believe), the supporters had high hopes for the season but instead another season of struggle has emerged. That said, a 2-0 win over York last weekend has provided new hope that the Pilgrims can steer clear and push up the table. One bright spot in an altogether frustrating season has been the form of Paris Cowen-Hall, and he will be someone City will have to shackle effectively.

The green side of Devon enjoys a slight advantage in head-to-head records, although since the sides’ paths have started to cross again following City’s sojourn in non-league it is City with a slight edge. The sides met last season in the JPT, City winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw, and it was City again victorious in the last league meeting at the Park, James Dunne scoring the only goal of the game to all but seal Plymouth’s relegation to League Two.

Don’t forget that the match is all ticket. No tickets will be on sale on the day. Noon kick off.

Match Officials – http://www.exeweb.com/2012/12/11/match-officials-for-exeter-versus-plymouth-argyle/

City and Argyle legends John Delve and John Hore drop by – http://www.exeweb.com/2012/12/11/hore-and-delve-drop-by-ahead-of-the-devon-derby/

 Featured image courtesy of the Express and Echo, 1976,