Derby Day: Ready Reckoner

Argyle v Exeter.

Pilgrims v Grecians.

The 105th Devon Expressway Derby.

Second v fourth.

Sold out.

The last time the two teams met, as recently as September, St James Park witnessed a famous Pilgrims’ victory - and the post-match observation of Argyle manager Derek Adams that "Devon is Green and White tonight...and always will be."

Since then, second-placed Argyle have forged another promotion campaign and are tucked just in behind leaders Doncaster Rovers, while fourth-placed Exeter have come up on the rails since November on the back of a 12-game undefeated sequence featuring 10 wins, nine clean sheets and seven successive victories.

Another unbeaten game will see City equal a 30-year-old club record while David Wheeler’s feat of scoring in each of the last seven wins is already an all-time Exeter best.

Argyle have picked up 19 points from their most recent nine matches, winning three from the last four, with only Premier League Liverpool lowering their colours at Home Park this year. 

Exeter boast the EFL’s Player of the Month for January, Ollie Watkins; Argyle’s Jake Jervis pipped him to the PFA’s award for the Player of the Month for December and will receive his award before the game.  

Argyle, who beat Exeter 2-0 at St James Park earlier this season with goals from Graham Carey and Arnie Garita, have won 44 of their meetings against City; Exeter have won 30 against the Greens. There have been 30 draws shared between the two sides.

New Argyle signings Antoni Sarcevic, Ryan Taylor and Matty Kennedy could all make their Home Park debuts in the game. 

On either side are players with attachments to the other: Taylor will join the likes of Gary Sawyer, Reuben Reid, David Fox and Luke Croll with a boot in the other camp. 

Nearly 15,000 will cram into Home Park - for a League Two game, remember – displaying passion and emotion that will be unmatched anywhere in the country this weekend. 

To help you plan your day, we are offering the following advice:

THE game is SOLD OUT. There are no more tickets available to purchase. Please do not come to Home Park if you do not have a ticket. 

THE match kicks off at 3pm. However, it would help you, and us, if you could please arrive early and ease the anticipated pressure on the Home Park turnstiles.  

USE public transport, whenever possible.

 

FREE car-parking is available adjacent to the ground, but this will fill up very early. Street parking in the area is available, but please take care to note local restrictions. 

MONTPELIER’S Primary School are opening their staff car park (North Down Road, Beacon Park PL2 3HN) from 1.30pm at a cost of £10 per vehicle. Parking is at your own risk; spaces are limited and will be on a first come, first served basis; gates will close 30 minutes after the end of the match. 

TURNSTILES to the Mayflower Grandstand, Devonport end, Lyndhurst and Barn Park end all open at 1.30pm.

 

THE Family Zone for All is NOT open for the game. 

 

PLEASE make sure you sit in the seat that corresponds to the number on your ticket. Anyone found in a seat or an area where they should not be could be ejected from the ground.

 

RECEPTION at Home Park will be open from 9am on match-day.

 

THE Superstore at Home Park will also be open from 9am on match-day.

THE award-winning Pilgrim match-day programme, costing £3, will be on sale.  

 

PLEASE note, it is a criminal offence to enter a sports ground whilst drunk and to bring alcohol into the ground. Anyone trying to enter Home Park whilst drunk will be refused entry and anyone found attempting to bring alcohol into the ground will be handed to the police. There is a three-year football banning order linked to these offences.

 

FANS are asked to be mindful of the Home Park ground regulations and refrain from entering the field of play before, during or after any game. Pitch incursions pose a threat to the safety of players, officials and spectators and will result in the Pilgrims being disciplined by the Football Association. Such incidents have resulted in clubs being charged and subsequently fined up to £200,000 by Regulatory Commissions.

 

THE following articles must not be brought into the ground: knives, fireworks, smoke canisters, air-horns, flares, weapons, dangerous or hazardous items, laser devices, bottles, glass vessels, cans, poles and any article that might be used as a weapon and/or compromise public safety. Anyone found to be in possession of any of these articles inside the ground could face a criminal prosecution and will receive an immediate and indefinite banning order from Home Park.