Bim Pepple of Plymouth Argyle holds off Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater of Exeter City during the Carabao Cup first round match at Home Park on 10 August 2026 - Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK

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The Pilgrims are into the second round of the Carabao Cup where they will host newly-promoted Premier League club Coventry City

Bim Pepple of Plymouth Argyle holds off Jake Doyle-Hayes and Jack Fitzwater of Exeter City during the Carabao Cup first round match at Home Park on 10 August 2026 – Photo: Dave Rowntree/PPAUK

Updated 23:47, 10 Aug 2026

It took two goals in second half added time for Plymouth Argyle to finally get the better of Exeter City and beat them 2-0 in the season-opening Devon derby at Home Park.

In front of a crowd of more than 16,000, there was lots of late drama in the Carabao Cup first round tie, first when the visitors had substitute Ethan Sutherland sent-off in the 88th minute after receiving second yellow card.

Argyle had pushed hard for a goal throughout the second half and finally opened the scoring in the second minute of stoppage time.

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Harvey White swung the latest in a series of corners into the Exeter penalty area and former City defender Alex Hartridge, who had been the target of abuse from away fans, headed home.

It was then 2-0 to the Pilgrims in the extra minute as Bim Pepple slotted home, in front of a jubilant Devonport End, after substitute Freddie Issaka had pressured goalkeeper Jack Bycroft and won the ball off him.

Scroll below for all the updates from Chris Errington at Home Park:

10th Aug21:55 BST

Full-time: Argyle 2 Exeter 0

Second half added time goals from former City defender Alex Hartridge and Bim Pepple against 10-man Exeter win this Devon derby for Argyle without the need for penalties.

10th Aug21:53 BST

Pepple makes it 2-0

Bim Pepple wraps it up for Argyle with a close range shot which went between the legs of Exeter’s Luca Woodhouse on the line with goalkeeper Jack Bycroft out of position.

10th Aug21:50 BST

Argyle take the lead

Argyle finally make the brekthrough in the second minute of stoppage time as former Exeter defender Alex Hartridge heads home from Harvey White’s corner.

10th Aug21:48 BST

Added time

Freddie Issaka is on as a 90th minute sub for Wes Harding. Four extra minutes now being played.

10th Aug21:45 BST

Red card to Exeter

Exeter substitute Ethan Sunderland is sent-off in the 88th minute after a second bookable offence, for a foul on Matty Sorinola.

10th Aug21:43 BST

Tonight’s attendance

The Home Park crowd this evening is 16,755, including 1,657 Exeter supporters.

10th Aug21:41 BST

Evans has another great chance

Harvey White swings a corner deep to the far post and Will Evans heads wide from close range.

10th Aug21:35 BST

Pleguezuelo on for Argyle

Mathias Ross has taken a blow to his head and suffered a cut. He has been replaced by Julio Pleguezuelo in the 77th minute.

10th Aug21:32 BST

Off target

Exeter substitute Josh Gordon fires well wide after a headed clearance by Mathias Ross from an Ethan Sunderland corner.

10th Aug21:30 BST

Fourth Exeter change

George Birch replaces Reece Cole as the game goes into the last 20 minutes.

10th Aug21:24 BST

First Argyle substitution

Matty Sorinola is on for Xavier Amaechi in the 67th minute.

10th Aug21:24 BST

Double Exeter change

Josh Gordon and Ethan Sunderland re on as 65th minuite Exeter substitutes for Taylor Perry and Gwion Edwards.

10th Aug21:21 BST

Best chance of the match

Exeter substitute Harry Kite makes a sloppy pass inside the visitors’ penalty area and Will Evans runs oto it but fires too high as he went for power .

10th Aug21:15 BST

Two Argyle opportunities

Will Evans runs onto a flick on and gets in a cross which is straight at Exeter ‘keeper Jack Bycroft. Then, moments later, Bim Pepple heads over from close range after a clipped cross from Malachi Boateng.

10th Aug21:08 BST

Two Exeter chances

Taylor Perry fires wide for Exeter after a headed clearance of a corner by Mathias Ross. Then, City break after Xavier Amaechi loses the ball and a cross from Reece Cole is headed over by Andrew Oluwabori.

10th Aug21:04 BST

Mitchell shoots wide

The ball drops to Alex Mitchell inside the Exeter penalty area and he drags a shot well wide of rhe target.

10th Aug21:02 BST

The second half is underway

Argyle are now playing towards the Devonport End.. One substitition for Exeter with Harry Kite on for Jake Doyle-Harris.

10th Aug20:46 BST

Half-time: Argyle 0 Exeter 0

Argyle have dominated the possession but not done too much with it, with Exeter ‘keeper Jack Bycroft making just a couple of saves.

10th Aug20:45 BST

Disallowed goal

Bim Pepple slots home after an angled cross towards him from Xavier Amaechi but he used his hand to control the ball and no goal is awarded.

We are into one extra minute at the end of the frst half.

10th Aug20:42 BST

Argyle trying to build pressure again

Argyle force a couple of back to back corners but they led to nothing, with Harvey White volleying well wide after the second one.

10th Aug20:33 BST

Bycroft tested by Pepple

Bim Pepple has a low angled shot pushed away by Jack Bycroft and Ed James makes the clearance.

10th Aug20:30 BST

Exeter threaten for first time

Exeter survived the early pressure thrown at them and are starting to grow into the game. Their first chance came when Charlie Cummins chested the ball down inside the Argyle penalty area and fired the ball just too high and wide of the target.

10th Aug20:26 BST

Edwards greeted by Green Army

There is applause from the Mayflower Grandstand and the Devonport End as Argyle club captain Joe Edwards warms up in front of them among a group of substitutes.

10th Aug20:24 BST

Curtis half-chance

Ronan Curtis has a scuffed left-foot shot saved by City ‘keeper Jack Bycroft after a low cross from the left by Bim Pepple, which Will Evans failed to make an initial contact with.

10th Aug20:20 BST

First yellow card

Exeter’s Charlie Cummins is booked for a late challenge on Malachi Boateng.

10th Aug20:14 BST

Not quite for Pepple

Alex Hartridge fires in a cross from the left and Bim Pepple, sliding in, cannot get on the end of it.

10th Aug20:12 BST

Evans not up front

Will Evans is playing off Bim Pepple in what is a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Ronan Curtis and Xavier Amaechi either side of him as an attacking trio ahead of central midfield duo Malachi Boateng and Harvey White.

10th Aug20:05 BST

Chance for White

The ball drops to Argyle debuitant Harvey White on the edge of the Exeter box but he miscues his shot and it bounces harmlessly wide.

10th Aug20:01 BST

Kick-Off

Argyle are playing towards the Barn Park End in the first half.

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10th Aug19:56 BST

The teams are out

Wes Harding leads out Argyle to a crescendo of noise around a packed Home Park. Exeter are captained by defender Jack Fitzwater.

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