League Two Preview: Leaders Plymouth Argyle face Devon derby rivals Exeter City

The League Two curtain-raiser this weekend sees Exeter City host league leaders Plymouth Argyle in the Devon derby.

The 13:00pm encounter at St James Park took an interesting twist this week as former Argyle striker Reuben Reid signed for the Grecians after walking out on the Pilgrims as a free agent over the summer. Reid was centre stage in this duel last season, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-1 victory for Plymouth.

Derek Adam’s side have made their way to the summit following a slow-ish start to the campaign. Their 2-1 win at Home Park last time out against bottom side Cambridge United may not have been that dominant a display, but it was nonetheless effective.

It’s a tight division and Plymouth seem to have added a more robust approach to winning games, which may prove extremely valuable as the season grinds on.

Rock-bottom Cambridge meanwhile are not embodying those hard nosed values which manager Shaun Derry made famous during his playing career. The U’s boss has called for patience from fans following a poor start to the season.

James Coppinger celebrated his 500th appearance for Doncaster in their 5-1 win over Morecambe last weekend – Photo: Offside.

No wins as we reach mid-September and bottom of the pile is not what the doctor ordered. As they hover over the relegation trapdoor, they’ll need no less than three points against a Morecambe side beaten 5-1 last week by Doncaster Rovers.

Donny are picking up speed fast and John Marquis is in delightful form at the moment. Last week he was unplayable, ask Alex Whitmore – following Marquis’ two goals, Whitmore found himself walking down the tunnel for an early bath which means he won’t feature at the Abbey Stadium.

Newport County manager Warren Feeney says his side will have to believe in themselves in order to beat ‘big hitters’ Doncaster one week on from that game. The Exiles face Darren Ferguson’s side at the Keepmoat Stadium with Rovers having not lost at home this season – you feel they’ll need confidence, belief, a game plan and a fair slice of good fortune to overcome South Yorkshire’s finest.

The pick of the other games sees second-placed Portsmouth travel to Accrington Stanley’s Crown Ground.

Portsmouth came from behind to beat Wycombe Wanderers 4-2 last week, the sides exchanging three goals on the stroke of half-time in a topsy-turvy encounter.

Pompey secured the points in no small part thanks to a cameo from Conor Chaplin, 19, whose neat footwork, skill and finish edged the South Coast side ahead before the half-time oranges. Accrington will want to build on their 2-0 victory secured against Notts County in their last league outing, in a boo-inducing game which County manager John Sheridan rather helpfully described as a ‘performance that didn’t merit appreciation’.

Accrington won’t mind that one bit – there’s no bonus points for style or artistic impression in League Two, it’s points on the board that matter.

Full League Two fixture list (September 17):

Exeter City vs Plymouth Argyle

Accrington Stanley vs Portsmouth

Barnet vs Colchester United

Blackpool vs Carlisle United

Cambridge United vs Morecambe

Cheltenham Town vs Notts County

Crawley Town vs Luton Town

Doncaster Rovers vs Newport County

Grimsby Town vs Crewe Alexandra

Hartlepool United vs Mansfield Town

Leyton Orient vs Yeovil Town

Wycombe Wanderers vs Stevenage