MAKE no mistake, Saturday's match at home to Plymouth Argyle is our biggest game of the season bar none.
It's not just another Devon derby, and an opportunity to avenge a 3-0 defeat at Home Park back in August, it's a game we must win if we're not to leave our play-off hopes dangling by the thinnest of threads.
As things stand, John Sheridan's side are six points above us in the final play-off place. So, it's pretty plain, a defeat would leave us with a mountain to climb and a draw wouldn't be a whole lot of help either – this is a game we really need to win.
Of course, it won't be easy; the Home Park side have won their last three games on the bounce and, after a tricky spell over Christmas and th e new year, appear to be moving in the right direction again.
Conversely, we haven't picked up anywhere near as many points as we'd have liked over the last couple of months and have really struggled to string two or three results together.
At the same time, we haven't played half badly in our last three or four games and, as wins over the likes of Shrewsbury and Wycombe demonstrate, are more than a match for anyone in League Two on our day.
So, the equation is simple – perform somewhere near our best and we'll have a good chance of landing the spoils. Anything less and our play-off ambitions could be dented almost beyond repair.
With that in mind, I'd implore everyone with 'a little bit of Exeter City in their heart' to overlook recent reverses, get along to the Park and cheer until they're hoarse. Rest assured, the players are ready to run until they drop to get a result and if the supporters demonstrate the same kind of passion as they did at Fratton Park on Saturday, then I see no reason whatsoever why, together, we shouldn't pull it off!
A win on Saturday could be absolutely huge for us. As I said a little earlier, we've struggled for momentum since the turn of the year but victory over our fiercest rivals could easily kick-start our season.
Six points off a play-off place is a little further back than we'd like to be, but if we can string two or three wins together it's nowhere near irretrievable.
I appreciate why one or two supporters' glasses might be half empty right now, but there are still 14 games to go and plenty of points to play for.
I thought we were desperately unlucky not to take anything from Saturday's game at Portsmouth.
There will, I'm sure, be some who say, I would say that wouldn't I? But, while I understand where they're coming from, I think my view is borne out by a quick look at he match stats – we had 17 shots, seven of which were on target, while they had 14, of which only four were on target.
We matched the home side for most of the game, only to be undone at the death by our resolve to try and win the game rather than settle for a point.
We must have been close to the 90-minute mark when the ball went out in the vicinity of our dugout and, rather than waste time, Tis handed it straight back to the nearest Pompey player.
Of course, sod's law dictated that the home side should then proceed to go straight down the pitch and put the ball in the back of the net.
I must take this opportunity to thank all those who made the trip to Hampshire at the weekend.
The support you gave us from start to finish was superb and we're only sorry we couldn't deliver at least a point for you.
Along with James Hamon, I spent much of Tuesday helping out with one of the half-term soccer schools being put on this week by the club's football in the community (FITC) team.
As ever, it was a fantastically well-run event and both myself and James had great fun helping out. I always enjoy spending time with youngsters who live and breathe football in general, and Exeter City in particular, and this was no exception.
George won't be one until September, so it will be a little while yet before myself and Amy can contemplate signing him up for one of the numerous soccer schools put on by the FITC guys but, as and when it happens, I know he'll have a ball!
FITC boss Jamie Vittles and his team do a fantastic job. Aside from the kids' soccer schools, they put on all sorts of other events, from table tennis to walking football, catering for all sections of the community, and I thought it was entirely fitting that Jamie was recognised as Exeter and East Devon's sports personality of the year in the 2014 Echo Sports Awards.
Please don't forget that the Argyle game kicks of at 1pm and that you must purchase your tickets in advance. This can be done up until 10am on Saturday and more details are available on the club website at www.exetercityfc.co.uk. See you at the Park!
