EFL Cup PREVIEW 10 Aug 2026: Plymouth and Exeter open the season with a Devon derby

Plymouth Argyle host Exeter City on Monday evening, kick-off 8pm, in the EFL Cup. It is the first competitive fixture of the season for both: Plymouth begin their League One campaign on 15 August, Exeter their League Two campaign on the same day.

It is also a Devon derby that the league calendar no longer provides. The clubs are in different divisions this season, so unless the cups pair them again, this is the only meeting of the year, which tends to sharpen a tie that neither side would otherwise treat as the priority.

A cup tie in the first week of August is played by two teams nobody has seen yet. Whatever either side did in pre-season, Monday is the first evidence that counts.