Monday 17 April 2023

BUTCHER SCORES WINNER IN EL PASTYCO

If Cheltenham Town versus Forest Green Rovers is 'El Glousico' and Port Vale versus Stoke City is 'El Ceramico' then Plymouth Argyle versus Exeter City is 'El Pastyco'. 

The two sides have faced each other every year since 2010, and the latest installment produced a fixture that could potentially be a destiny defining one for the Pilgrims and their promotion prospects in the 2022-23 campaign.

Matt Butcher wrote his name into Argyle folklore with the only goal of the game in the 70th minute with a shot that took a deflection off the Grecians former Pilgrims defender Will Aimson, following a short corner routine. The result also sees Argyle boss Steven Schumacher complete the double over his opposite number Gary Caldwell.

It was a result that sees the Pilgrims gain ground on fellow promotion challengers Sheffield Wednesday, who lost 3-2 to Burton Albion, and return to the summit of League One. 

Should Argyle achieve their ultimate aim and win promotion then the Devon derby with Exeter will be off their agenda and both sides will need to cast their net further in search for their nearest local fixture to Bristol. Nigel Pearson's Bristol City in the case of the Pilgrims and Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers in the case of the Grecians.