Sky Bet League Two: We Deserved It

Our first relegation views are always early in the scheme of things. The fan base is still optimistic at the end of the busy first week even if their team has stunk up the joint thrice running.

And it is easier this time of the year. No matter the evidence on the field managers and coaches stand up to the proferred microphones and make a brave face. This weekend I must have heard a dozen grim faces say "That was a tough one. We should have come away with a point. We deserved it."

And everyone believes it right now. Fans are still plying on hope and optimism and possibilities. Managers, coaches and players are seeing good in with the bad and are thinking that just some hard work will iron the mistakes out.

It won't be until about week eight when the dawning realization hits that there are some serious problems, and jobs are on the line.

In League Two, we are off to a keen start. Of course the Relegation Battle in the Fourth Tier is a bit muted since only two squads will get their walking papers next year. That with the 46 game season gives everybody lots of time to dig themselves out of any hole they find themselves in by Boxing Day. Still, we have a few groups of less than stout-hearted men who deserve a word:

RELEGATION ZONE:

Plymouth Argyle

Three games: 2 League Two contests and a round of the ELF Cup with a congregate 0-6 score line, but it felt more like 0-12. Considering the Green Army were a win away in the final 2015-2016 playoff matchup from opening in League One, this is confounding on so many levels.

First out for the Pilgrims was the 0-3 spanking at the hands of mighty Luton. The telling fact was that the Green Army actually was given a lifeline late in the second half. In the 89th minute, down 0-2 the visitor's Daniel Potts was handed a Red Card and suddenly Plymouth Argyle had a man advantage. It proved only fool's gold as they could only watch Luton's Jonathan Smith fire home the final insult in extra time.

From there the Pilgrims traveled to Reading for their first flyer and only flyer at the EFL Cup. The most diplomatic statement I saw was that Reading "eased" past Plymouth Argyle 2-0.

Then at the end of a busy first week the Pilgrims traveled to Carlisle to receive a more physical thrashing. Their players were thumped about the pitch, but at least the scoreline was a vast improvement as they merely lost 1-0.

The problems are legion: Players being physically dominated by the opposition, disorder in the back, no cutting edge. Manager Derek Adams has his work cut out for himself.

Exeter City

The Lions are definitely a step above Plymouth Argyle, not only being in 23rd spot instead of dead last, but they definitely have a lot more positives to look at during their first week.

They started out traveling to Blackpool. Newly relegated side from League One, tough place to play. The effort seemed there but for some untimely mistakes in the back. They made the bus ride home after a 2-0 defeat. But then they followed that up with a bright, home 1-0 win versus Championship side Brentford midweek in their EFL Cup match.

But then came a nightmare in their second League match versus Hartlepool. In the second half Exeter seemed in control and out front 1-0 on the scoreboard when suddenly Hartlepool struck for two goals in rapid succession. Just like that, the Grecians were dumped into the relegation zone.

Exeter's problems are quite different from those of Plymouth Argyle. At times Exeter has played damned well. But then suddenly "stuff happens."

Outside Looking Up

Notts County

Notts County rallied from behind to tie Stevenage at the end of the week or else we might be taking a more serious look at the Magpies. The formula here seemed to be set in:

First game: a 2-0 thrashing at Yeovil opening day.

The EFL Cup a 2-0 thrashing at League One side Scunthorpe.

Then quickly down 0-1 hosting Stevenage and there were murmurings amongst the faithful. But home cooking is always better and so the Magpies stopped the bleeding before equalizing in the first half. The teams then fought to an entertaining 1-1 draw.

Out of these three struggling teams, Notts County at least opened on a bit of a high note - if you can call a tie a high.

Coming Relegation Battle of the Week

Tuesday, August 16
Notts County
Plymouth Argyle