'Let the headlines be about the football' Matt Taylor's message to Exeter City fans
A sell-out crowd is expected for the Devon Derby
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Matt Taylor has called on Exeter City fans to behave but to give their all in today's Devon Derby clash with Plymouth Argyle.
For the first time in years, the match is a sell-out with the last few tickets for the game snapped up weeks ago and there is sure to be an electric atmosphere inside St James Park for the 1pm kick-off.
Argyle will be heavily backed by the Green Army and themselves sold out of tickets inside 90 minutes, but in a fixture where events off the pitch can sometimes get out of hand, Taylor has called for fans to be respectful ahead of the game.
'I know what I want in terms of a performance' Exeter City manager Matt Taylor ahead of Plymouth Argyle clash
Asked what message he had for the fans, Taylor said: "They certainly have to behave the right way. Our fans have been excellent throughout my affiliation with the club, but I want any headlines to be about the football as opposed to anything else on Saturday.
"I know there is rugby on early doors, so some fans will have a few pints in, I am sure, but just behave in the right manner. It will be two committed teams. I can only speak for my own team, but we will be fully committed and trying everything we can to win the game.
Exeter City beat Plymouth Argyle 1-0 in FA Youth Cup
"There will be mistakes – it's League Two football – and there will be some people at the ground who have probably not been to the Park for a few years or ever before. Hopefully we can put on a performance which they enjoy and brings them back."
Today's clash is the first time the two rivals have met since the 2016/17 season, when Argyle did the double over the Grecians. As things stand, Exeter are just above the Pilgrims in sixth place, but the visitors could go above City on goal difference with a win this afternoon.
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I am surprised by that... I thought it would be sold out all the time!" Taylor said when asked about the level of interest in the game.
"I don't know why it hasn't, but it is great that it is a sell out. We know that they will be backed because away fans get a certain number and they have sold out as well and rightly so.
"There's a lot riding on it. The bragging rights is one, the three points is another one and I don't need the fans to tell me which is more important! But as a manager, I still have my manager's hat on and say, after a couple of defeats, I want points on the board."
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