Mayor's Exeter Preview

As Argyle prepare to head into a Devon Derby against Exeter City, six games from the end of the season, Danny Mayor is using a set of career experiences to ready himself for the game.

In October 2019, Danny’s Argyle career was three months old when he was part of the squad that, under Ryan Lowe, went to Exeter and lost 4-0, a scoreline which matched the Greens’ worst-ever result against their biggest rivals.

That was the last time Argyle visited St James Park but, as they prepare for a return, they can take solace from the fact that more recently, in October 2022, it was the Pilgrims’ turn to net four times against their neighbours, in a 4-2 victory.

Mayor watched that one from the stands, and imbibed the atmosphere on one of the great Home Park evenings of recent years.

“I was in the stands, and it was incredible from start to finish,” Danny told Argyle TV. “It was a great game and it was a fantastic result. It's something that we want to replicate on Saturday.

“I played there a couple years ago and it wasn't a great experience; it’s not something I want to remember, so it'd be amazing to go there and put it right.

“It's not something you want to experience again. We know the following that we take and we know how big it is to the fans. We know how big it is to the city.

“Because we've experienced it here, I think the lads know how big it is now. Maybe when you first come down, I don't think the lads understand how big it is. Maybe I didn't when I first came down. But I think once you've experienced it once, you know how big it is to everyone. I don't think we'll have to emphasise that to anyone.

“Especially after Monday, it's a great game to go and put it right. Not just for the race for promotion, but it would be class to do the double over them.”

The Monday to which Danny mentioned refers to a defeat at home to Lincoln City, just Argyle’s second home defeat all season, from which they are looking to bounce back from.

The Greens’ record for reacting to a loss is strong, and they will need that resilience in the hostile territory they will visit on Saturday lunchtime.

Argyle go into the game in second place in Sky Bet League One, a point behind leaders Sheffield Wednesday, with Ipswich Town another point back. The latter pair have a game in hand on Wednesday, which means that with half a dozen vital games remaining, things are still in Argyle’s hands.

“We know what the aim is for the end of the season, we know how close we are,” said Danny. “Every game's a massive game at the minute, but to be in a Derby straight after a defeat. it is a perfect game to put it right.

“We know what the aim is, and we know how close it is. I think at the beginning of the season, if you said that with six games to go, it's going to be our hands to get promoted and possibly win the league, we'd have snapped their hand off.

“We need to understand that we need to go into every game knowing it's a cup final and for 90 minutes, give everything to come out with the right result.

“It's what every player wants. I've been lucky enough to be promoted a few times. I know what the feeling's like. After last season, experiencing it, just missing out the points that we got, I think it gives everyone the fire in the belly to not let it happen again.”