Derby Day - A Lot at Stake

Today’s game between Exeter City and Argyle, at St James Park, takes place at 1pm, and is the 104th professional clash between the county’s two Sky Bet EFL sides. 

Sky Bet cannot split the two, with the league sponsors offering 13/8 on each team to win, with the draw at 23/10. 

We have taken a look at the history of the fixture, analysed some stats and facts, and come up with some potential bets to help you enjoy the Devon Derby – and maybe win a few quid, too. 

Last season, Argyle scored four goals in three fixtures against Exeter, and all were notched by loan players. Hiram Boateng and Craig Tanner scored in a 2-0 win in the Checkatrade Trophy, while Oscar Threlkeld and Jamille Matt scored goals in 2-1 defeats in the league. 

Paul-Arnold Garita has made an impact in one-and-a-half games since being loaned from Bristol City, but the big striker is yet to score. He is 13/2 to score the opening goal in this game, and 9/4 to score at any time. 

Tanner, who scored an exceptional solo goal against City last year, is 11/1 to get the opening goal this time around, and 7/2 to score at any time. 

Argyle have only failed to score at St James Park once in the last 12 visits. If you are after a bet with small odds, then you can get 1/3 on Argyle scoring one or more goals. If looking for better value, you can go with Argyle to score exactly one, at 6/4. 

Exeter have also scored in 11 of the last twelve derbies at St James. Both teams to score is 8/11, with Argyle to win and both teams to score available at a tempting 4/1.

Graham Carey was this week presented with his award for winning Sky Bet League Two goal of the month, and has three goals in total this season already. He has 15 career Argyle goals in 54 appearance – a ratio of better than one in four. 

The pair of goals against Mansfield was the first time Carey had scored twice in one game for Argyle, but the Irishman is in great form, and may well do so again. He is 14/1 to score a brace in the game, and a huge 100/1 to bag his first Argyle hat-trick. 

Just one of the last 46 games involving Argyle and Exeter has seen either side score four or more goals. That was in December 1996, when Argyle won 4-1 in the FA Cup. The manager of Exeter that was Peter Fox, whose son David may line-up for the Pilgrims on Saturday. 

David is yet to score for Argyle, is 12/1 to score first, and 4/1 to bag a goal at any time. For a 4-1 scoreline to occur this time, it is 50/1, while the combination bet of Fox to score first and Argyle to win 4-1 you can get a whopping 375/1.

Argyle have score seven of their last eight goals in the second half, and score three out of four goals last season against Exeter after the break, too. It is 11/4 that exactly two goals are scored (by both sides combined) in the second half. 

You can get even money on Argyle being the last team to score. Fancy another late winner, like Sonny Bradley’s against Cambridge? How about 11/1 that the first goal of the game is scored after the 86th minute?

Maybe Sonny will recreate his last ditch heroics, and score the winning goal on Saturday. He is 40/1 to score the first goal, 14/1 to score at any time, and a whopping 195/1 to get the only goal in a 1-0 win. 

Someone did once say that we would meet again….some Sonny day.