Plymouth booked their place in the next round with a 2-0 win over Exeter City in the League Cup's Round of 128 on Monday evening. The hosts controlled proceedings from start to finish, though the result was not confirmed until the dying moments. Alex Hartridge and Alex Pepple struck in stoppage time to settle what had been a one-sided contest for long periods.
Plymouth dictated the tempo with 63 per cent possession and 107 attacks against Exeter's 74. The visitors struggled to create clear opportunities, registering just one big chance compared to four for the hosts. Exeter's only real threat came from set pieces, but they managed only three corners throughout the match. By then the pattern was clear — Plymouth kept knocking on the door while Exeter could only defend.
The match changed shape when Edward Sutherland was shown a second yellow card in the 87th minute. The dismissal came after Cummins had already received a booking in the 19th minute, leaving Exeter to finish the game with ten men. The decision effectively ended any hope of a comeback. Plymouth had already done enough to deserve their place in the next round.
What followed was a late flurry. Hartridge found the net in the 92nd minute, and Pepple added a second two minutes later. Both goals came after the red card had shifted the balance entirely. The statistics told the story — six shots on target for Plymouth against just one for Exeter. The visitors bottled any chance they might have had.
Plymouth's expected goals figure of 2.4 reflected their dominance, while Exeter's 0.69 suggested they created little of note. The home side completed 267 passes in the opposition half compared to 142 from the visitors. Their four big chances created contrasted sharply with Exeter's single opportunity. The red card meant Exeter could not even attempt to close the gap.
The victory extends Plymouth's recent good form, following wins against Torquay and Bath earlier this month. Exeter's run of results has been inconsistent, with draws and defeats scattered across the same period. The hosts now advance while the visitors return home with nothing to show for their efforts.