Football – England – League Two
Monday 28th January 2013 – Kickoff: 1945hrs
Monday night sees the west country local derby played at St James’ Park when hosts Exeter City take on struggling neighbours Torquay United in the only League Two fixture tonight.
Exeter City, currently in fourth place, could leapfrog third placed Northampton Town and into the automatic promotion spot if they get at least a point on Monday night, but of course they’l be wanting to take all three if at all possible. Exeter are on a good run at the moment having been unbeaten in their last five league matches which includes wins over Wycombe Wanderers, York City and a 3-0 home win over Southend United along with taking a point at Torquay United in their previous corresponding fixture a couple of weeks ago where they drew 1-1.
Exeter return back to familiar surroundings for this next derby match and their home record stands at an indifferent 4-4-6 19/20 but bear in mind they’ve had visits from Port Vale, Rotherham United and Oxford United whom they lost to, but they have a good chance of improving on this record when Torquay come to town having not beaten a top half side yet this season.
Onto the visitors then, and Torquay United have had a disappointing campaign so far and find themselves in 18th position some eleven points adrift of their west country counterparts. Torquay United are usually challenging for at least a play-off place but The Gulls’ away form has been the main reason for their failure to make an impact on the top seven so far this term.
An away record of 2-5-6 10/13 is just not good enough if their play-off ambitions are to be realised, and along with failing to win in their last six matches overall, they’ve won just once in their last nine away matches which was a 2-0 win at York City back at the end of November.
In addition, Torquay’s away record at top half opposition so far this season has been a big let-down with a record of 0-4-3 3/6, and I’m sure Exeter City will only be too aware of their rivals’ failures on the road and will be wanting to rub salt into their already sore wounds.
Exeter City are by far the better performing side out of the two, and with home advantage and the incentive of moving up into third place, I’ll back the hosts to win this one but I’ll give the quarter ball here as it is a local derby. Exeter City to win perhaps by 1-0.
Pick: Exeter City AH-0.25 @ 1.70 Pinnacle
