What You Live For

THERE could surely have been no better start to Argyle’s new players’ Sky Bet League 2 home campaign than Saturday’s 3-0 win over bitter rivals Exeter City in front of a packed Home Park.

“That’s what you live for,” said centre-back Peter Hartley, one of five Pilgrims making their Home Park league bow. “That’s exactly the reason I’m a professional footballer – for games like that.

“It makes it worthwhile and it’s nice to send 11,000 people home for a happy weekend, knowing that you’ve earned your keep.

“I’ve played here before and I knew what the fans are capable of and they showed that on Saturday. It is a massive, massive reason why I came to the club. I can’t believe Plymouth is a League 2 club, to be honest, with the backing it’s got and the quality of players we’ve got.”

One thrashing of your enemies does not a season make, and Peter is aware that Argyle will have to show similar all season, starting on Tuesday when his former club visit Stevenage Home Park. He also believes they are capable of that.

He said: “It’s all well and good, playing like that on Saturday, but we have got to follow that up with another win, really get the fans behind us as a 12th man, and look forward to a successful season.

“I don’t think we’ll get an atmosphere like that again all season but we have got to create our own atmosphere. We have got players in the dressing-room that can annihilate teams on their day.

“I train with them every day and we have got some outstanding players - young players, too – and I think we are going to have a very successful season and a very successful couple of years.”

Peter Hartley is 25/1 to score first against his old team on Tuesday. Worth a punt? Log on to Sky Bet to take advantage - and help Argyle at the same time!