The Game
Argyle v Exeter City. Saturday, 11 April. 12.30pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Exeter City find themselves in the bottom four in League One, currently taking up the final relegation spot. From their 42 games so far, Exeter have 46 points, getting them from 12 wins, ten draws and 20 defeats.
For the first six games of the season, City exchanged losses and wins, then lost four in succession to get to the end of September. For much of the rest of the year the pattern continued – only sporadic draws, and a mostly even split of wins and defeats.
Christmas and New Year was Exeter’s best period of the season - in the league. They won four out of five, the other being a draw, but among all that the Grecians lost 10-1 to Manchester City in the Emirates FA Cup.
While, as part of the aforementioned strong league run, Exeter won the next two games after getting hammered by the light blue of Manchester, things were about to turn.
Exeter were to go on a 15-game winless run, during which manager Gary Caldwell departed for Wigan Athletic. That run of games ended on Monday, with a 3-0 home victory over Doncaster Rovers.
The Gaffer
Matt Taylor returned to Exeter in February for his second spell in charge at St James Park. He is interim manager until the end of the season. Taylor spent years in non-league football as a player before signing for Exeter in 2007, aged 25. He played over 150 games for Exeter before moving to Charlton Athletic, also later playing for Cheltenham Town.
He began coaching with Bath City, and went on to join Paul Tisdale’s coaching staff at Exeter, before succeeding Tisdale as manager. After achieving promotion from League Two, Taylor left to manage Rotherham United. He was there for just over a year, and then was Bristol Rovers manager for almost the exact same time, before his return to City in March 2026.
The Squad
Jayden Wareham (below), with 21 goals from 49 games in all competitions, is comfortably Exeter’s leading goalscorer. In fact, only two players in the division – Dom Ballard and Kyle Wootton – have scored more than Wareham’s 18 league goals. Wareham, 22, signed from Reading in the summer, for whom he was a bit-part player and scored just three goals in League One last season.
Ilmari Niskanen has started every league game for Exeter this season. He has played mostly on the right side of defence or midfield, but has shown his versatility by playing in a multitude of positions. The 28-year-old played nearly 200 times for major Finnish club KuPS, and has played for German side Ingolstadt and Dundee United before moving to Exeter in 2023. He has 23 caps for Finland.
Ethan Brierley, on loan from Brentford, has been a fixture in Exeter’s midfield. Starting 39 of 42 games, the 22-year-old has made an impact in his first loan out having signed for the Bees in 2023. Prior to that, Brierley came through the ranks at Rochdale, and played 45 times for them as a teenager before leaving for Brentford.
Earlier This Season
In October, Exeter won the first Devon Derby of the season, winning 2-0 at St James Park. They did so comfortably, with goals from Reece Cole and Akeel Higgins.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin at 11.30am, with Aaron Cusack and Erin Black building up to the game, joined by special guest Marino Keith. Commentary of the game comes from Charlie Price and Ian Stonebridge.
Match passes to watch this game on Argyle TV are available overseas. CLICK HERE for more information.
