Match Day Preview: Exeter City v Plymouth Argyle

Exeter City v Plymouth Argyle

Sky Bet Football League 2, Saturday 5 October 2013 (kick-off 1pm)

Form tends to go out of the window in derby games; or so Plymouth Argyle will hope as they prepare for the Devon Expressway Derby against Exeter on Saturday (5 October).

While neither side has been the model of consistency so far this season, the Grecians sit in the comparative comfort of the play-off places after last Saturday's impressive win at promotion rivals Fleetwood Town; but Argyle's goaless draw against bottom of the table Accrington Stanley after consecutive defeats, leaves their position looking rather more precarious.

However, Pilgrims manager John Sheridan is looking to the game as a way to rediscover some form - and goals. He told the club's website: “It’s a good game for us. If we can get a positive result, it gives something back to the fans, who have suffered a little bit of late, and, hopefully, it gives us confidence.

“We’re in a position where we have to start winning one or two games and get on a little run, if we can. If you do that, you find yourself jumping up the table.

“It might just give us that big lift we need if we can go there and get a good result.”

Underdogs Argyle may be, but they took four points from Exeter last season and they will feel any gap between the Devon clubs is more about form than class.

“They are the home team and we’re on a poor run so [Exeter] will look at it, confident that they can get the three points,” said Sheridan, “but we’ll go there, make it hard for them, and hopefully come out with what we want.

“It doesn’t matter who you play in this league – if you go out and perform, you can win, but, if you’re not at the races, you’ll end up losing.”

Indeed, an alternative glance at the form book will tell you Exeter have lost their last two home games (including the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Wycombe), so St James Park has been no fortress of late.

A lunchtime kick-off (1pm) awaits the two old rivals, with bragging rights the prize if there is a winner. For Argyle, there could hardly be a better way of reviving a season that has fallen a bit flat of late.

The Green Army will be behind them all the way.