Good Morning Devon, the Doughnut is the go-to place for sports news all across the region and today is no different. Across the day we will have live updates from the county’s teams ahead of this weekend’s live sporting action.
13:14 – IN FULL: Read Luca Sperti’s full preview of Exeter City vs Port Vale.
Exeter City look for first win in 11 against Port Vale this Saturday: Match Preview
13:00 – Harlequins Women vs Exeter Chiefs Women
12:52 – IN FULL: Hear from both Steven Schumacher and Michael Cooper ahead of Argyle’s Championship clash.
Steven Schumacher previews this weekend's @SkyBetChamp tie against Leicester City.
In partnership with @MBSW.#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) December 7, 2023
🗣️ "I just get really excited."
Mike Cooper speaks on Argyle's upcoming @SkyBetChamp fixture against Leicester City.
In partnership with @MBSW.#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) December 7, 2023
12:45 – Next up, our last update of the day is coming from Sandy Park where Jack Sanderson previews the Cheifs Women’s away trip to Harlequins.
12:39 – Plymouth Argyle Women vs Oxford United Women Preview
Plymouth Argyle Women look forward to Adobe Women’s FA Cup action this Sunday, 10 December, facing off against Oxford United Women at Coach Road in the competition’s third round.
Argyle’s road to the third round has seen the Greens perform prolifically in front of goal and put on sone dominant displays which should give the team extra confidence going into the knockout tie.
The Greens put 13 past Ilminster Ladies at Home Park without reply and continued their fine form in the second round against AFC Stoneham Ladies where the Greens triumphed 4-2, with two late goals for the visitors not enough to stop Argyle advancing to the next round.
“We’ve had a good start to the cup so far,” said Manager Ryan Perks. “Although we didn’t play as well as we could have against Stoneham we got the win, and that’s what counts. Hopefully we can continue our good run of form and progress further in the competition.”
It wasn’t long ago that Argyle visited Oxford United Women in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division, a game that began with high hopes for the Greens after dominating the early stages of the match. A sending-off for Lucy Hack ultimately made the difference, with Argyle heading home frustrated in defeat.
12:35 – Leicester City vs Plymouth Argyle Preview
Schumacher spoke to the media later on and his team won’t be going to Leicester to just sit back and watch.
“Our message to the players will be the same, we know what their strengths are, we know how good their style of play is.
“We don’t want to go there and stand there and admire them, that doesn’t suit us.
“we’re going to go there and try to be positive and have a go”.
With a lot of talk surrounding Schumacher’s future after the sacking of Tony Mowbray by Sunderland.
Schumacher responded to all the rumours:
“It has happened before. I tend not to get involved in it, if I’m dead honest. I speak to my agent and say, ‘Don’t bother me until you need to’ and he doesn’t. It doesn’t affect me one little bit so, no, I’m not aware of anything.
If the fans don’t want, you to go that shows you are doing something right. In general, I think everybody understands there is going to be a time in the future where a club comes along and I feel as though it might be the right opportunity, if we are still doing really well”.
12:33 – Leicester City vs Plymouth Argyle Preview
Looking ahead to Saturday, Argyle shot-stopper Michael Cooper spoke to the media ahead of their trip to the King Power stadium and talked about his family connection with the club.
Cooper said: “Mum and Dad were season-ticket holders, and still now they go to a few games with their friends who still live in Leicester.
“I’ve always supported as well. It’s a club I’ve always supported as well. It’s always been my second team.
“I can’t wait go to go to the King Power and play, but everyone’s a Pilgrim on Saturday. We’ve got no problem about that”.
Cooper says he and the rest of the Argyle squad are relishing the challenge of playing against Leicester.
“You have to have a different mindset and approach going into these games against tougher teams with Premier League experience. You have to set up differently to how you might at home, like Stoke.
I just get really excited, to be fair. Coming through here – League Tow, League One – you don’t really think you’d be in the first team in the Championship playing against the likes of Leicester and Leeds”.
12:32 – Leicester City vs Plymouth Argyle Preview
Plymouth Argyle will be taking on Sky Bet Championship league leaders Leicester City in a Championship fixture for the first time since 2010.
Argyle enjoyed a last-minute winner last time out as they came from behind to beat Stoke City. After going 1-0 down early on, Mustapha Bundu, who was making his first start since his return from injury, brought them level with a fine finish from close range.
The game looked like it was going to finish a point a piece with the Stoke defence holding strong. After a moment of frantic action in the box Adam Randell kept his composure and scored the winner on his 100th appearance for the club.
12:30 – Next up, we are about to hear from both Steven Schumacher and Michael Cooper ahead of Leicester away courtesy of Xander Turnbull.
12:25 – ICYMI: Argyle U18’s vs Crystal Palace U18’s FA Youth Cup
Watch the highlights from last night’s cup tie under the lights at Home Park:
It was a positive night under the lights at Home Park 🏟️
🎥 Take a look back at a heartbreaking but encouraging performance for @PAFCAcademy, as they bowed out of the FA Youth Cup.
📺 Watch now on Argyle TV ⬇️#pafc
— Plymouth Argyle FC (@Argyle) December 8, 2023
12:10 – IN FULL: Hear from Gary Caldwell in full ahead of Exeter’s League One clash.
12:08 – IN FULL: Hear from Aaron Downes in full ahead of Torquay’s FA Trophy clash.
12:01 – Exeter City vs Port Vale Preview
Exeter manager Gary Caldwell previewed the match saying: “we’re hoping for a big performance we’re hoping for a lot of energy.”
“We have to show bravery we have to play our way, the way which got us so much success earlier in the season, we have to get back to that and understand how we’re going to score goals.”
“We have to take more risks in the final third the players know that and have worked extremely hard on that and now it’s about us giving them the support and confidence to go and do that on Saturday.”
“No matter who we play, I think at our best we would be a match for anyone in the league.”
“It will be a difficult game, there’s no easy games in League one so we have to be at our very best if we want to win.”
“The supporters deserve better but I think the supporters have to come to the stadium with a mindset of supporting the players no matter who they are and it’s up to the players to give them something back in terms of energy and performance.”
11:59 – Exeter City vs Port Vale Preview
Exeter City take on Port Vale this Saturday at ST James’ Park. The Grecians currently sit in 20th place just two points outside of the relegation zone and are searching for their first league win after 11 games without one.
The Visitors Port Vale are one place and one point above Gary Caldwell’s side and haven’t won since September, they will be looking to take three points back Staffordshire on Saturday afternoon.
11:55 – Next up, we have quotes from Gary Caldwell’s pre Port-Vale presser courtsey of Exeter City reporter Luca Sperti.
11:35 – Frome Town vs Torquay United Preview
Assistant manager Aaron Downes previewed the game with ‘Official TUFC TV’ and told them
“I watched them (Frome) last Friday night at Bishop Cleave and they were a good side, good footballing side, want to play.”
“They do want to play out, play through the thirds and try and play that possession-based style.”
“Absolutely not going to be an easy game, especially going away from home in the rain.”
“We’ve got to play the conditions, we’ve got to go to a game that they’ll be desperate to win, we are aware of their threats and their weaknesses, and this is our opportunity to exploit that and get through to the next round because it’s something (FA Trophy) we want to stay in.”
11:30 – Frome Town vs Torquay United Preview
This weekend the Yellows travel to Somerset for an FA Trophy 3rd Round Tie against Frome Town, who sit third in the Southern League Division One South.
Torquay come into this game on the back of three wins on the bounce, scoring 10 in the process, whereas Frome have had a mixed bag with a draw, loss then win
The Gulls defeated Yeovil 2-1 in the second round, with De Silva and Dolan bagging the goals.
The Robins had a tougher time, drawing 2-2 with Worthing and defeating them 4-3 on penalties.
