Friday, 10 December 2010

ARGYLE VS CITY PART TWO

Encounters between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City seem to be like buses, you wait ages for one to come along and then, in a short space of time, two appear at once.

Saturday's meeting will be the second time that the two sides have met this season, and the second time in eight years, after their clash in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, which the Grecians won 2-1 with goals from Ryan Harley and Daniel Nardiello, with Argyle replying through Chris Clark.

With the Pilgrims suffering from the disappointment of England missing out on hosting the World Cup in 2018 and their recent appearance in the High Court, where they faced a winding up order, a win would provide the club with a major feel good factor.

Manager Peter Reid, himself a veteran in his career of Merseyside, Manchester and North East derbies, will not doubt be aware of the significance of the game to Argyle followers. Although their clash earlier in the season was only the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, he will know the Pilgrims fans wouldn't have been happy to lose to their local rivals.

Exeter, on the other hand, will see a win as an opportunity to boost their outside chances of making the Play-Offs and to record their first league win over the Pilgrims since 1993. It would also reflect just so far they have come since the dark days that saw them relegated from the Football League in 2003.