The Devon derby delivered drama, disappointment, and a deluge of soul-searching for Plymouth Argyle as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat against Exeter City at St James Park on October 23, 2025. For Exeter, it marked their first triumph over their regional rivals in six years, a result that sent the home fans into raptures and left the visiting Green Army jeering and booing their own team off the pitch. For Argyle, the fallout has been swift and severe, with head coach Tom Cleverley and his players facing the full force of supporter frustration and mounting pressure near the foot of League One.
Exeter set the tone early, seizing the initiative in the 18th minute when Reece Cole struck the opener. The Grecians remained in control throughout, and just before the hour mark, Akeel Higgins broke clear to double their advantage. Plymouth’s best moments were fleeting—a disallowed goal in the opening minutes and a late shot from substitute Owen Dale that failed to trouble the scorers. The rest of the evening belonged to Exeter, who celebrated a landmark victory while Plymouth’s woes deepened.
For Tom Cleverley, the post-match inquest was as blunt as the performance on the pitch. Speaking to BBC Sport, he admitted, "Deserved. It hurts. We are all human beings, we want to be accepted by our supporters. There is me, there is a staff and 15 brand new players to this club, we want the acceptance of our support. We don't deserve it at the minute." The head coach did not shy away from the criticism, acknowledging the pain of the fans and the scale of the team’s shortcomings. "I think we're all quite embarrassed by that performance. That is a strong word in the football industry—we are embarrassed by that performance. We know that they're [fans] suffering a lot of pain right now," Cleverley told Plymouth’s media team.
The statistics underline the malaise. With 13 points from 13 matches, Plymouth Argyle sit 21st in League One, just outside the relegation zone but uncomfortably close to the drop. The defeat at Exeter means the Pilgrims have now failed to win four of their last five league outings. Perhaps most damning, only Leyton Orient have conceded as many goals as Argyle’s 23, and the team’s expected goals against tally of 19.2 is the fourth highest in the division, trailing only Burton, Blackpool, and Rotherham—all clubs mired in the wrong half of the table.
Attacking output has been another sore spot. Despite boasting an average possession of 53.3%, Argyle’s expected goals for stands at 15.6, with just 17 actual goals scored. The team’s creativity has been blunted by injuries to high-profile summer signings Xavier Amaechi and Caleb Watts, and while striker Lorent Tolaj has netted four of the club’s last six goals, he found himself starved of service at St James Park as Exeter cut off supply lines with clinical efficiency. Aside from a resounding 4-0 win at Burton Albion, Plymouth have failed to score in two of their last five games and managed only a solitary goal in two others.
"We haven't got the creativity at the minute to score three goals, so what we must do is not concede two," Cleverley conceded. "That will be a heavy part of my work moving forward. I do feel like we have got players who can unlock defences, the problem is we don't do it consistently enough. We like to judge ourselves off the attacking output from Burton away, but you must do that on a consistent basis to be a team with any substance. What I can do is be more consistent in how solid we are and that is a large emphasis going forward."
Fans have not held back in their assessments. PlymouthLive’s comments section overflowed with criticism, with supporters decrying basic defensive lapses, tactical confusion, and a lack of motivation. One supporter, Ozplym001, summed up the mood: "Opposition teams are finding it far too easy to hit long balls over the top. Where most sides would deal with them confidently, we fail to do so, allowing second-ball chances and putting ourselves under unnecessary pressure. The link between defence, midfield and attack is almost non-existent." Others called for a tactical rethink, with some suggesting a switch to a more solid 4-2-3-1 formation to stem the flow of goals conceded.
Questions have also been raised about the club’s recruitment strategy and direction. Fans pointed to a reliance on inexperienced players, the lack of cohesion among a squad featuring 15 new signings, and an overall sense that the team is adrift without clear leadership. Criticism extended to the boardroom, with some supporters blaming management decisions for the current predicament—especially the failure to retain key players and invest in the first team.
Throughout it all, Cleverley has remained forthright about the scale of the challenge. "We're not stable enough to build anything from. When the opposition has to do very little to score, that's a hard foundation for any team. The best teams build their confidence from solidity, that's what we have to find now," he said. The coach’s honesty has won him some sympathy, but patience is in short supply as the threat of relegation looms.
The pressure is mounting, and the schedule offers little respite. Plymouth now turn their attention to a pivotal away clash against Mansfield on Tuesday evening. Anything less than three points could spell disaster for Cleverley’s tenure, with some fans already predicting managerial changes if results do not improve. The next few weeks will be critical—not just for the coach, but for a club desperate to arrest its slide and restore belief among a restless fanbase.
As the dust settles on a bruising derby defeat, the message from Plymouth Argyle’s supporters is clear: the time for excuses is over. Defensive solidity, renewed energy, and tactical clarity are urgently needed if the Pilgrims are to steer clear of the relegation trapdoor and recapture the faith of the Green Army. The road ahead is daunting, but the season is far from lost—if Cleverley and his players can find the resolve to respond.
