Points of View

The Argyle number 10 had to watch his side cruise to a comfortable 2-0 victory on Tuesday night against City in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy after a knee injury prevented him from playing. 

Carey wasn't risked by manager Derek Adams for the atmospheric clash between the two Devon sides who were vying for the counties bragging rights, but from his vantage point in the Grandstand, he was impressed with what he saw. 

 "It was a bit frustrating [not to be playing] but I think it was all in all a great team performance," said Graham. "We really deserved the victory; the way we played was probably the best we've done all season.

"That was a good taste of the derby, my first taste of the derby but I think it was good to see it from the outside in. It didn't really feel like a derby on the pitch, off the pitch it did but on the pitch we totally controlled the game and we were by far the better side."

The derby atmosphere - as well as Argyle's stunning start to the season - brought fans to Home Park in solid numbers, with 9,441 in attendance for the game. Graham was impressed. "I've seen a few of the other Johnstone Paint Trophy games and the crowds weren't too good," he said. "The better football we play - and we've tried to do that all season - and the better we do the more fans will come to the games." 

Craig Tanner replaced Carey in the starting 11 and showed what he is capable of with an assist and terrific solo goal that earned him the man of the match award. Carey expressed how good he thought Tanner's performance was, along with others that stepped in, saying: "I thought he was man of the match by a mile. I thought his goal just shows what he's all about - committing defenders. It was a calm finish."

 

"We have Josh [Simpson] who came in as well and did really well, the competition for places is so tough. It shows the depth we have in the squad it shows that if anyone's not on their game there's other players to come in and take their position."

It will not be all that long before Exeter visit Home Park again, as the league fixture between the two sides falls on November 21. Graham does not necessarily expect another facile victory, though. 

"I'd imagine it'd be a bit different," he said. "I think they'd play a few different players if it was a league game Tuesday. A cup game is totally different to the league so it'll be a different mindset for both teams but we'll be going there to try and get three points again."