Hartridge condemns Exeter abuse as Plymouth advance in Carabao Cup

Plymouth Argyle defender Alex Hartridge has formally condemned the abuse directed at him by Exeter City fans during their Carabao Cup first-round fixture, stating the conduct “went too far”. The incident occurred at Home Park during Plymouth’s 2-0 victory over their Devon rivals, a match in which Hartridge, a former Exeter player, scored the decisive goal in second-half stoppage time.

Reports indicate that during the first half, what is thought to have been a lighter was thrown in Hartridge’s direction. Additionally, a song referencing his family was sung by the Exeter support. Hartridge, 27, acknowledged the animosity inherent in the rivalry but emphasised that the behaviour crossed a line. “It’s not nice to see it spill over and to be a part of that,” he told BBC Sport.

Exeter manager Matt Taylor, who managed Hartridge for much of his career at St James Park, expressed disappointment at the reaction from the home crowd. Taylor noted that Hartridge had served the club well, playing more than 150 games and helping secure promotion from League Two in 2022. “I think the lighter was thrown from our end,” Taylor said, adding that while such incidents are part of football, it was a shame to witness such treatment of a player who had “never let us down”.

Plymouth boss Tom Cleverley praised Hartridge’s resilience, highlighting the narrative of a former player enduring abuse before scoring the winner on his Argyle debut. Cleverley described Hartridge as a reliable performer who contributes significantly to the team’s weekly efforts. The victory secures Plymouth’s place in the Carabao Cup second round, where they will host Leeds.

Hartridge stated that the abuse would not impact his performance, noting that he expected the hostility given his history with the club. He confirmed he would check on his family to ensure they were unaffected by the incident. “Stick and abuse I was expecting and none of what they said is true, it’s just words,” Hartridge said. “It definitely gave me a bit more and it made that sweeter, the way it ended.”