Next up in our series previewing next season’s newest opponents in League One is our old rivals from down the A38. After a two season hiatus, the Devon Derby is back and rivalries restored after the Pilgrims relegation from the Championship on the final day of last season.
2024/25 Campaign
After narrowly staying up on their return to the second tier, you would suspect Argyle’s target was progress under manager Wayne Rooney, but their campaign got off to the worst possible start with a 4-0 drubbing at Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day. Heavy defeats on the road became a common theme for the Pilgrims, and ultimately it was goal difference – and away form - that would play a huge part in their drop to League One. Three home wins in a row across September and October steadied the Mayflower, with a stoppage time goal in each of the contests showing their strength in the closing minutes, but further losses on the road at Cardiff (5-0), Leeds (3-0), Norwich (6-1) and Bristol City (4-0) meant the club dropped into the relegation zone by Christmas. Wayne Rooney was sacked on New Years Eve and Miron Muslic took over the reigns two weeks later, drawing his first game to Oxford. A 5-0 home defeat to Burnley was a dent, but Muslic helped the side pick up as they claimed seven points from the next three matches to bring them closer to safety. Rooted to the bottom in the closing weeks of the season, relegation seemed certain, but Argyle weren’t going down without a fight. Four wins from their final seven matches gave them a real chance, but relegation was all but confirmed despite a 2-1 win at Preston on the penultimate day of the campaign. Luton’s win over Coventry meant Argyle would have to overturn an impossible goal difference against champions elect Leeds United on the final day.
The Manager
The hot seat down the A38 is now vacant after manager Miron Muslic departed Argyle for FC Shalke 04 over the weekend.
Miron Muslic joined Argyle after leaving Cercle Brugge in Belgium. The Austrian-Bosnian has a playing career throughout Austria, most notably for SV Ried who he would go on to manage after a spell in charge at Floridsdorfer AC. Muslic left Brugge with a win record of 42% from 101 matches, and left Argyle with a percentage of 34.8% from 23 matches.
The Stadium
With a capacity of just under 18,000, Home Park has played host to Argyle since 1903. It has undergone renovation in recent years, with the Mayflower grandstand reopened in 2020 after work to replaced the seats, roof, changing facilities, hospitality areas. Home Park has been used for concerts including Take That, Elton John, George Michael and Westlife, and also uniquely hosted a Manchester United home match in 1977 after UEFA ordered them to play ‘at least 120 miles away’ from Old Trafford as a punishment for hooliganism. Away fans are housed in the Kawasaki Barn Park End.
Head to Head Record
- Matches Played: 119
- Exeter City wins: 36
- Draws: 29
- Plymouth Argyle wins: 54
First competitive match: November 11, 1908 | Exeter City 2-1 Plymouth Argyle | Southern League Division One
Last competitive match: April 15, 2023 | Exeter City 0-1 Plymouth Argyle | League One
Biggest Exeter City win: 4-0 (most recently October 2019)
Biggest Plymouth Argyle win: 5-0 (January 1957)
Previous Fixture
April 15, 2023 | Exeter City 0-1 Plymouth Argyle | League One
Exeter City: Blackman, Key, Sweeney, Aimson, Hartridge (Cox), Mitchell, Kite (Scott), Collins, Chauke (White), Stansfield, Nombe
Subs not used: Woods, Grounds, Caprice, Sparkes,
Played for Both
Despite the rivalry, many players have crossed the Devon divide, with Caleb Watts making the move in May. Other recent players include Will Aimson, Jamie Mackie, Daniel Nardiello, Reuben Reid, Ryan Taylor, Craig Noone, Ben Purrington, John Delve and Ryan Brunt. In truth, there are far too many players to list that have played for both, but you can check out Grecian Archive – just search ‘Plymouth Argyle’ in the search box to bring up plenty of information from matches, players, programmes and more.
Did You Know?
Argyle defeated Chesterfield 7–0 at Home Park on 3 January 2004 in the Second Division; their joint record win. In the process they also broke the English record for the fastest five goals scored in a professional game – after just 17 minutes.