An alleged racist remark was made by a Bolton Wanderers fan to Exeter City skipper Josh Magennis during the League One clash at St James Park. The match was paused in the latter stages after the comment was made from the away end to the Northern Ireland international.

Magennis, who used to play for the Trotters, reported the comment to referee Ben Speedie, who then undertook the protocols following the incident whereby players and officials were informed. An announcement was then made over the tannoy about the incident – at the precise moment Bolton scored their winning goal.

“It is a comment we don’t want in the game,” Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell said post-match. “We don’t want racism and Josh felt the need to tell the referee. That’s disappointing and do what we can to support Josh but don’t know what impact it had on the game

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“If Josh feels the need to say to the ref it has obviously happened, we don’t want in the game, we don’t want in society. That is bitterly disappointing and fair play to Josh for bringing it to the attention of the referee and we will support him as a football club and as a human for whatever we need to do.

“Josh said a racist comment had been made from the Bolton end and we are going through the necessary protocols to deal with it. I didn’t hear the announcement as I was focused on the game but it was an unsavoury moment in a really good football match. We don’t want that in the game, hope we find who did it, and they are not in football anymore.”

Demetri Mitchell had put the Grecians 1-0 up early in the second half when he pounced on a defensive error. Aaron Collins though levelled up in the 88 ^th minute when a City error was pounced up in the same way.

Aaron Morley then won it for the visitors in stoppage-time when his curling cross went all the way into the City net, with the goal being scored as the announcement about the alleged racist remark was being broadcast.

No official statement has yet been released by either Exeter City, Bolton Wanderers or the EFL following the incident.