Setting The Standard

ARGYLE’S players set an early-season benchmark in the Capital One Cup this week that manager John Sheridan believes can serve them well in Saturday’s eagerly-anticipated Devon Expressway Derby.

The Pilgrims showed bags of character to twice come from behind against League 1 promotion-fancies Leyton Orient, who they played off Home Park for more than an hour before unluckily going out of the competition in a penalty shoot-out after a thrilling 3-3 draw.

John wants his team to show the same passion and belief that saw them put Orient to the sword for more than an hour after half-time when county and Sky Bet League 2 rivals Exeter City make the short trip south on Saturday.

He said: “If we go in and play like we did Tuesday night, with that belief, that confidence and tempo, then we’ll give Exeter a hard game.

“I have got to be realistic – it’s going to be tight; it’s a derby game – but if we perform like we did on Tuesday night, then I’m confident we’ll get the three points.
 “We showed a lot of character and hopefully that will stand us in good stead. That’s all down to the players and I’m very pleased with the way they went about things.”

“We just need to keep that mentality, and hopefully that will stand us and keep up going for the rest of the season.”