Plymouth Argyle’s home Devon derby against free-scoring Exeter City sold out in midweek, writes Ross Reid.

No surprises there. Both sides are in top form and on the automatic promotion trail.

The derby always attracts a top Home Park crowd wherever the teams are placed in the league.

The fact that Argyle are second, nine points ahead of their Devon rivals in fourth place, has heightened hype ahead of tomorrow’s match.

Both Derek Adams and Paul Tisdale have their sights set on promotion.

But – before we all get carried away – two top teams with so much to gain in front of a capacity attendance does not guarantee it’s going to be match of the season at Home Park.

Much has been made – certainly by the red and white biased – that the City side are on a superb seven-match winning streak.

However, the oft-repeated reminder that Exeter are only nine points behind Argyle in the League Two table ahead of the derby has somehow managed to be spun out with rare mention that the Greens have a game in hand on the Grecians.

Besides, tomorrow’s match – possibly fortunately given City’s brilliant away form at the moment – is not a promotion decider.

Derbies are great for supporters and to his credit Adams is more than happy to say he enjoys these tussles. Adams was raised in Glasgow where Celtic-Rangers meetings are the stuff of folklore and legend.

However Argyle are back in home action again on Tuesday night against relegation haunted Leyton Orient when the words ’must win’ spring immediately to mind.

After Orient, just 16 league games to go – with no derby distractions – and 16 reasons to embrace the race for promotion.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint.