TORQUAY v EXETER – Pick: 2 AH0 – 15 January 2013

Exeter could edge west country derby at Plainmoor

League One/Two Tips

Football – England – League Two

Tuesday 15th January 2013 – Kickoff:  2000hrs

Torquay United play host to rivals Exeter City in the west country derby in Tuesday night’s solitary League Two match at Plainmoor.

Torquay United currently sit just below mid-table while their counterparts are in third place and will be looking to reduce the points deficit on second placed Gillingham who lost top spot to Port Vale at the weekend. Torquay will be bracing themselves for the visit of Exeter City who ran out convincing 3-0 winners over rival play-off candidates Southend United at the weekend, while the hosts have been in poor form recently.

It’s now a run of five matches without a league win for The Gulls with defeats against Bradford City, a loss at home to lowly AFC Wimbledon and an away defeat at Burton Albion along with draws against Northampton Town and the other west country rival Plymouth Argyle, Torquay just haven’t been able to completely pull themselves away from the bottom four although they do have a seven point cushion over 23rd placed AFC Wimbledon.

However, if results don’t start to improve they could yet find themselves fighting a relegation battle towards the end of the season. Mixed results at home haven’t helped either despite wins over Morecambe and Dagenham, they seem to take one step forward and two steps back with recent defeats to Southend United and Wimbledon. Torquay’s home record stands at  6-4-2  23/19 which is actually pretty good but they are inconsistent and this is what gives visitors Exeter City a chance here tonight.

Onto the visitors then, and Exeter’s season continues to go from strength to strength following a disastrous September and October where they managed just one league win in eight matches during this period.

Exeter City have since pulled their socks up and have lost just twice in their last twelve matches and The Grecians have won their last three matches on the trot with victories over Wycombe Wanderers 1-0, York City 2-1 and the home win on Saturday against Southend United. Incidentally, two of those three matches were away wins and their away form has been excellent in recent weeks having recorded five wins on the trot in all, in their last five on the road.

Exeter’s away record now stands at a creditable  9-1-3  23/18 and they’ve failed to score just twice this season on their travels. The incentive seems to be stronger for Exeter in this match rather than the hosts Torquay, but we have to remember this is a local derby and almost anything can happen.

Torquay’s inconsistent form doesn’t give me any confidence in backing them in this one against a stronger Exeter outfit, and if the visitors had been playing anyone else I’d have probably swayed towards an away win, but instead I’ll back Exeter City with the round ball in this one as it’s a derby match but they should have enough about them to get at least a draw; perhaps a 2-1 away win for Exeter though?

Pick:  Exeter City AH0 (Draw No Bet) @ 2.00 Pinnacle