Plymouth v Exeter preview

admin

Plymouth look set to recall the experienced Paul Wotton for the Devon derby against Exeter.

Manager John Sheridan was frustrated by his side’s lack of leadership in their 1-1 draw with Accrington in the 36-year-old’s absence, describing his side as “a bunch of mutes on the pitch” and hinted that Wotton was left out with the Grecians in mind.

Luke Young dropped to the substitutes bench at the Crown Ground and the midfielder also looks likely to return to the starting line-up as they look to avoid back-to-back defeats against their fiercest rivals.

Tope Obadeyi looks likely to start in the final match of his loan stay from Bury with Lewis Alessandra sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale could name an unchanged starting line-up for the third successive game as they make the short trip to Plymouth.

The Grecians shocked Fleetwood 3-0 on Saturday on the back of a 1-1 draw at Newport and Tisdale has no fresh injury worries as Exeter look to extend their 100 per cent record in Devon derbies this season.

Eliot Richards scored twice in that emphatic victory and he looks set to keep his place but there are a number of players pushing for starts should the City boss decide to shuffle his pack.

David Wheeler, Matt Grimes and Arron Davies are all options for Tisdale as he looks to record a league double over the Pilgrims for the first time since arriving at St James Park.

Plymouth v Exeter preview

admin

Plymouth defender Curtis Nelson is set to return for the Devon derby.

The youngster had been sidelined by a persistent groin problem since late January but has returned to training and is set to be involved.

The Argyle youth product’s comeback will be timely with fellow central defender Anthony Charles set to miss out again with a groin injury he picked up in the 2-0 win at Southend.

Striker Warren Feeney is on the comeback trail after two months on the sidelines with an ankle injury but this match is expected to come too soon for the Northern Ireland international.

Captain Conor Hourihane heads into the clash with their biggest rivals on nine yellow cards, one away from a two-game suspension. And striker Reuben Reid will be involved after his loan deal from Yeovil was extended until the end of the season.

Argyle are now two points clear of the League Two relegation zone having suffered just one defeat in their last six games but they have tasted victory over Exeter just once in the previous five meetings.

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale is confident his promotion-chasing squad can handle two crunch games in just over 48 hours, starting with the Devon derby.

That lunchtime clash on Saturday and Monday’s visit of Rochdale will decide whether the Grecians have a realistic chance of making it into the League Two automatic promotion places.

But, injuries and suspensions aside, Tisdale is likely to name a similar line-up in both matches.

Matt Oakley (shoulder), Tommy Doherty (back), Alan Gow and Liam Sercombe (both ankle) are all sidelined but the arrival of Brighton midfielder Anton Rodgers and fellow loanee Lawson D’Ath from Reading have helped fill the void.

John O’Flynn will hope to keep his place after netting in the 4-1 win over Bradford, with top scorer Jamie Cureton pushing for a recall after being an unused substitute against the Bantams.

Cureton has scored 20 goals for the Grecians this season but has failed to net in 12 appearances against the Pilgrims since netting for Bristol Rovers at Home Park in January 1998.

Plymouth v Exeter preview

admin

Argyle manager Peter Reid will be boosted by the return of first-choice keeper David Button, captain Carl Fletcher and versatile left-sided player Jim Paterson for the Devon derby.

Button has missed 16 games in all competitions and nearly three months of action after suffering an ankle injury during the 1-1 draw with Colchester, but is available for selection again.

Fletcher has been suffering from a leg injury and has missed the last eight games, while Jim Paterson has been in training for a couple of weeks now since returning from a troublesome hamstring.

Midfielder Luke Summerfield could be out for a further three months after damaging medial knee ligaments in training, having not yet resumed full training following a twisted knee.

Other than Summerfield, Reid has no other injury or suspension problems to worry about.

Exeter striker John O’Flynn is pushing for a place in manager Paul Tisdale’s starting line-up.

The four-goal hitman, who has been struggling with a groin injury recently, had been in line for a return to action against Tranmere last week, but freezing weather conditions saw the game postponed.

However, having another week’s training will have only boosted the Irishman’s chances of a start, and his return means Tisdale has plenty of attacking options.

Daniel Nardiello’s injury-time equaliser as a substitute last time out at Oldham will also have boosted his own chances of a recall.

The enforced break has also given defender Richard Duffy a better chance of shaking off a slight hamstring injury.

Plymouth v Exeter preview

admin

Plymouth manager Peter Reid is without Dean Parrett and Kari Arnason for the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy visit of local rivals Exeter.

On-loan midfielder Parrett was dismissed for a two-footed lunge on the stroke of half-time in the FA Cup defeat to Swindon and became the seventh Argyle player to have received his marching orders this season. Parrett will serve the first game of his three-match ban while Karl Arnason will miss the game as he completes his three-game ban.

On-loan Conor Clifford is likely to be back in the Pilgrims’ midfield after he was refused permission by parent club Chelsea to play in the FA Cup.

Bondz N’Gala could return to the Argyle defence that shipped four goals against Swindon after completing his two-match suspension while Romain Larrieu impressed in goal after he replaced the injured David Button and could keep his place between the sticks.

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale has no new injury worries after several members of his squad fully recovered from illness ahead of the trip to Plymouth.

Jamie Cureton, Ryan Harley, Richard Logan and Richard Duffy are all back to full fitness after a sickness bug swept through the Grecians squad. Logan and Duffy both started the FA Cup defeat at Bury and are likely to keep their places while Cureton and Harley both came off the bench on Saturday and are pushing for starts.

Ben Watson missed the game at Gigg Lane and could be back in contention for a place in the squad while Matt Taylor and John O’Flynn have both been absent from the squad in recent weeks and the trip to Home Park is likely to come too soon for the pair, who are hoping to return for Saturday’s game against Notts County.