Date of Tips: 07/08/2026
Disclaimer The odds for these selections were correct at the time of publishing (15:10 07/08/2026) but may have changed since. Please check the latest price before placing your bet.
Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City prediction starts with a Devon Derby that should bring plenty of edge to the opening night of the 2026/27 season for both clubs. Plymouth host Exeter at Home Park on Monday, 10 August 2026, with kick-off at 8pm in this Carabao Cup first-round tie. With a place in Round Two at stake and recent meetings giving both sides reasons for confidence, you can expect a competitive start to the campaign.
Match date: Monday, 10 August 2026
Kick-off: 8pm BST
Venue: Home Park, Plymouth
Competition: Carabao Cup, First Round
Season: 2026/27
The Carabao Cup provides the competitive curtain-raiser for Plymouth and Exeter, and there is the added importance of local pride in the Devon Derby.
Plymouth have home advantage and will be looking to begin their 2026/27 campaign with a cup victory. Exeter travel to Home Park knowing they have already caused Argyle problems in recent meetings.
The Grecians beat Plymouth 2-0 at St James Park in October 2025 before the return fixture finished 2-2 at Home Park in April. That makes this an awkward opening assignment for the hosts despite the advantage of playing on their own ground.
Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City kicks off at 8pm BST on Monday, 10 August.
The Devon Derby has been selected for live television coverage in the UK, with the fixture available through Sky Sports. Streaming is also available through NOW for viewers with the appropriate Sports Membership.
There are no confirmed injury designations available for either club heading into the fixture, so it would be wrong to rule individual players in or out.
Plymouth’s most recent match was a 4-1 friendly victory away at Tavistock AFC on 4 August. Argyle used a heavily rotated and youthful side in that game, which means changes are entirely possible for the Carabao Cup.
Exeter’s senior side drew 1-1 with Championship opposition Bristol City at St James Park on 1 August. Reece Cole put the Grecians ahead with a long-range strike before Bristol City equalised late on.
The Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City lineups remain difficult to call before official team news. Using the players selected in each club’s most recent match as the clearest guide, these are the projected XIs.
Plymouth Argyle predicted XI:
James Storer, Julio Pleguezuelo, Sam Hayman, Jared Rendle, Joe Mwaro, Brendan Wiredu, Bradley Ibrahim, Caleb Roberts, Seb Campbell, Freddie Issaka, Frankie Maund.
Plymouth could make several changes from that side given the youthful nature of the team sent out against Tavistock.
Exeter City predicted XI:
Jack Bycroft, Ed James, Jack Fitzwater, Luca Woodhouse, Gwion Edwards, Taylor Perry, Charlie Cummins, Andrew Oluwabori, Reece Cole, Sonny Cox, Jayden Wareham.
There is a little more reason to trust the Exeter selection as a guide because Matt Taylor named a more senior side for the final friendly against Bristol City.
There is no competitive 2026/27 league form to assess yet, so pre-season provides the most recent guide.
Plymouth finished their preparations with a 4-1 victory at Tavistock. The match was level 1-1 at half-time before Argyle scored three times in the second half.
Exeter’s 1-1 draw against Bristol City was also encouraging. Cole gave Exeter the lead before Tomi Horvat’s 84th-minute effort denied them victory.
You shouldn’t read too much into friendly results, particularly given Plymouth’s rotated selection, but neither team comes into the derby following a poor final outing.
Recent Devon Derby results give Exeter reason to travel to Home Park with confidence.
The Grecians won 2-0 at St James Park on 23 October 2025, with Reece Cole and Akeel Higgins scoring.
The next meeting produced considerably more drama. Plymouth and Exeter drew 2-2 at Home Park on 11 April 2026, with all four goals arriving in the second half.
Plymouth twice fell behind before eventually finding an equaliser, so Exeter have avoided defeat in both of the two most recent competitive meetings supplied here.
The strongest Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City betting tips centre on avoiding an overly aggressive match-result prediction.
Home Park gives Plymouth an advantage, but Exeter’s record in the two recent derbies makes a straightforward home win harder to recommend.
Plymouth or draw offers the more cautious result angle, while both teams scoring and a higher goal total are interesting possibilities following April’s 2-2 encounter.
Prediction: BTTS – Yes
Both teams scored in the most recent meeting at Home Park, while Plymouth and Exeter also found the net in their latest respective friendlies.
You can find more BTTS tips when comparing this market across other fixtures.
BTTS Prediction: BTTS – Yes. Bet with bet365.
The previous meeting produced four goals, while Plymouth scored four in their latest friendly.
Cup football can be difficult to predict at this stage of the season, particularly when managers are still settling on their strongest combinations, so Over 2.5 is preferred without treating another high-scoring game as inevitable.
Over/Under Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals. Bet with bet365.
The Plymouth Argyle vs Exeter City correct score prediction is a narrow 2-1 home victory.
Exeter’s recent derby record suggests they are capable of causing Plymouth problems again, but home advantage could prove enough for Argyle to edge a close cup tie.
Correct Score Prediction: Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Exeter City. Bet with bet365.
First goalscorer prediction: Reece Cole
Cole stands out from the latest Exeter lineup because there is recent scoring evidence behind the selection.
He scored Exeter’s opener against Plymouth in their 2-0 victory in October and then found the net again against Bristol City in the Grecians’ latest senior friendly.
First Goalscorer Prediction: Reece Cole. Bet with bet365.
With this being a knockout Devon Derby, there’s a reasonable chance both sides will have spells where they are forced onto the front foot. Plymouth should look to make use of their home advantage, while Exeter have already shown they can compete effectively with Argyle.
Corners Prediction: Over 8.5 corners. Bet with bet365.
Prediction: Exeter to receive more cards
There is some recent derby evidence supporting this angle.
Exeter collected more yellow cards than Plymouth in both of the supplied 2025/26 meetings. Local rivalry can add intensity, but the prediction is based on those recent matches rather than assuming this game will automatically be ill-disciplined.
Cards Prediction: Exeter to receive more cards. Bet with bet365.
A promising combination is:
Plymouth or Draw + Both Teams to Score + Over 2.5 Goals
The double-chance selection provides some protection against Exeter’s strong recent derby record, while BTTS and Over 2.5 goals lean on the attacking evidence from the 2-2 meeting at Home Park and the teams’ latest preparations.
Bet Builder Tip: Plymouth or Draw + Both Teams to Score + Over 2.5 Goals. Bet with bet365.
Plymouth have home advantage, but this isn’t a Devon Derby that looks straightforward on paper.
Exeter won the first meeting of last season 2-0 and then led Plymouth twice during the 2-2 draw at Home Park. They also finished their main pre-season programme with a respectable draw against Championship opposition, with Cole again providing a goal threat.
Plymouth’s 4-1 victory over Tavistock gives them a positive result immediately before the cup tie, although the youthful and rotated nature of that starting XI makes it difficult to use the performance as a direct guide to Monday night’s team.
Home advantage just tips the prediction towards Argyle, but Exeter look capable of contributing to the scoring.
Final prediction: Plymouth Argyle 2-1 Exeter City
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Visit our football previews & predictions page for more betting tips on upcoming matches.
Plymouth Argyle are narrowly predicted to win. Home advantage gives them the edge, although Exeter’s unbeaten record across the two most recent competitive Devon Derbies suggests this could be close.
The match kicks off at 8pm BST on Monday, 10 August 2026.
The Carabao Cup first-round tie takes place at Home Park in Plymouth.
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