'Go and make yourself a derby day hero'

EDWARDS' MESSAGE TO HIS ARGYLE TEAM-MATES AHEAD OF EXETER TRIP

- By CHRIS ERRINGTON

PLYMOUTH Argyle captain Joe Edwards has told his teammates they have a chance to become a club hero in the Devon derby against Exeter City at St James Park on Thursday.

Matches between the two rivals are always competitive and carry special significance for players and supporters alike, and with both teams currently in the bottom five of League One - Argyle 21st, Exeter above them on goal difference in 20th, this latest encounter will certainly be no different.

If selected, Edwards will become just the 46th player in club history to make 250 appearances for Argyle, which he admitted would give him a feeling of 'immense pride.' For it to come in a win at Exeter would make it one of his favourite memories from his time with the Pilgrims.

It has been an up and down start to the season for a much-changed, injury-hit and largely youthful Argyle squad, which Edwards acknowledged. He said: "I think we are in a place where we know we can be better, we want to be better but there is still that optimism and belief that we will get there.

"It has taken longer to get that consistency than we wanted. We have seen little bits and glimpses of it, which show there is ability and results to come but we just need that on a regular basis. We aren’t happy with where we are and what we are doing but there is enough to be hopeful about."

Argyle had appeared to be moving up the table until picking up just one point from their last two games - both at Home Park - with a 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic followed by a 2-1 defeat by AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.