Plymouth Argyle defeated local rivals Exeter City 2-0 in the first round of the Carabao Cup, with two late goals securing their progression. The match, a Devon derby, saw Alex Hartridge score on his debut in stoppage time, followed quickly by a goal from Bim Pepple.
The victory means Plymouth Argyle will host Premier League side Coventry City in the second round of the competition later this month. This win marks the seventh time in eight seasons that Argyle have reached the second round of the EFL Cup.
Match Action and Key Moments
The game at Home Park was largely a patient affair, with Plymouth Argyle dominating early possession. Their first significant opportunity came after 22 minutes when Ronan Curtis scuffed an effort from close range after a pull-back from Bim Pepple.
Exeter City had a rare chance five minutes later, but Charlie Cummins shot high and wide from a poorly cleared corner. The match was briefly halted by referee Dean Whitestone when an object was thrown onto the field. Mathias Ross went close for the hosts, and Pepple had a goal disallowed in the 45th minute after controlling a cross with his arm.
After the break, Andrew Oluwabori missed a headed opportunity to put Exeter ahead. At the other end, Pepple missed a close-range chance from Malachi Boateng’s cross following a passing spell from Argyle. Debutant Will Evans also shot wide from close range after an Exeter error and later headed wide from a corner with eight minutes remaining.
The intensity of the game increased towards the end, culminating in a red card for Exeter’s Wolves loanee Ethan Sutherland with two minutes left. Sutherland received his second bookable offence for tugging back Matty Sorinola during his 23 minutes on the field, leaving Exeter with ten men.
The deadlock was broken in the 91st minute when Alex Hartridge, making his debut, rose highest to head in a corner. Just two minutes later, Bim Pepple sealed the victory, scoring from inside the box after Freddie Isaaka blocked a clearance, and the ball fell to the Canadian striker.
Manager Reactions
Plymouth Argyle head coach Tom Cleverley expressed a sense of relief following the win. He noted the team’s ability to overcome challenges from the previous year and highlighted the importance of a derby victory, stating that they had not shown their best in previous derby encounters. Cleverley praised his team’s patience and the support of the fans.
Exeter City manager Matt Taylor described the end of the match as “painful.” He acknowledged that his team was connected, disciplined, solid, and honest for much of the game, though they struggled to create enough attacking opportunities. Taylor attributed the late goals to a “spell of inexperience” and quick yellow cards, leading to numerous balls in their box. Despite the disappointment, he praised his team’s honest display.
Team Statistics
Match statistics show Plymouth Argyle had 21 shots compared to Exeter City’s 8, with 6 shots on target for Plymouth and 1 for Exeter. Plymouth also had significantly more touches inside the opposition box, with 35 compared to Exeter’s 13. In terms of distribution, Plymouth completed 361 passes with a 74% accuracy, while Exeter completed 216 passes with 50.9% accuracy. Exeter committed more fouls with 14 to Plymouth’s 9, and received the only yellow card of the match.
This match was a significant one as Exeter’s relegation last season means there will be no league Devon derbies this campaign. Plymouth Argyle finished eighth in League One last season and have made additions to their squad, including Alex Mitchell and Wes Harding. Bim Pepple, who scored 15 goals in all competitions in 2026, is expected to take on a leading role in Argyle’s attack this season.
Source: bbc.co.uk