Christmas came early for Exeter City with the gift of three points as they ended their six game winless run in League One with victory at struggling Burton Albion. It was a Christmas cracker of a strike from Millenic Alli which won it for the Grecians as they came from behind to win 2-1.

Burton gave their new boss the perfect start when Billy Bodin drilled home a free-kick from the edge of the area with just seven minutes played. The Grecians though were far the better side, missed a hatful of chances before in first half stoppage-time, Josh Magennis deservedly drew City level with a close range header.

Bodin missed a great chance to restore Burton’s lead, and that was costly when Millenic Alli smashed home an incredible strike from 25 yards which went right in the top corner to put City ahead with 20 minutes to go. And that the difference between the two sides as City got back to winning ways after a tough period at St James Park.

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The victory for City was a first in the league since November 9 and only a second in all competitions in the last nine, as well as being the first time in the league all season they have come from behind to win. They rose up to 13^th in the League One table with the three points. For Burton, they remain 23^rd and deep in relegation trouble.

exeter-city-fc>Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell, who was serving a touchline ban after an accumulation of yellow cards, made two changes to the side beaten by Barnsley last Saturday. Skipper Pierce Sweeney missed out with injury, while Caleb Watts also dropped to the bench. In came Kevin McDonald into the midfield, while Demetri Mitchell started for the first time in 14 months.

Jack McMillan lined up in the defence, while Kamari Doyle returned to the matchday 18. Despite scoring for the U21s in the Premier League Cup on Wednesday, neither Sonny Cox nor Amani Richards were in the squad.

Burton, with new manager Gary Bowyer in charge for the first time, had the first chance when McDonald was adjudged to have handled on the edge of the box with seven minutes on the clock. And they took it. Tomas Kalinauskas laid the free-kick off to Bodin, he drilled a low strike under the ball, and despite Joe Whitworth getting a hand to it, he couldn’t keep it out. It was the perfect start for the Brewers and a terrible one for the Grecians.

City were on the back foot and struggling, with Bodin nearly scoring straight from a corner that Whitworth backpedalling had to tip over. At the other end, City were not threatening the Burton goal when they went forward, an Alli cross which no-one could get to as close as they came. And with 25 minutes gone, Exeter were forced into a change when Tristan Crama limped off, with Jack Fitzwater the replacement.

It took 27 minutes for City to have a shot, and it came when Ilmari Niskanen got his head to a bouncing Alli cross, but the Finn nodded wide. The Grecians were growing in confidence and dominance, but the final ball was letting them down. Jack Aitchison and then Alli tested Max Crocombe with strikes that he managed to keep out, Ed Francis blazing over from 25 yards, before McDonald snatched at an effort 12 yards out after some pinball in the box as suddenly the chances were flowing.

NIskanen then put an effort on the stretch into the side netting after an Alli cross evaded everyone as City were dominating but couldn’t find the goal. But in first half stoppage-time, the goal finally arrived, and it was the captain for the day who got it. A patient spell of possession saw the ball worked to Alli, he teased in a beautiful cross from the right, and Magennis rose highest in the six yard box to head home his seventh of the season and it was no less than Exeter deserved.

Burton were unchanged for the second half, while Caldwell made one change, with Reece Cole replacing Aitchison. Ryan Sweeney headed wide from a set piece before Mason Bennett did put the ball into the net, but long after the whistle for offside had been blown. Bodin then had a golden chance to make it 2-1 when City switched off and he snuck in around the back, but Whitworth did brilliantly to deny him from point-blank range.

Francis saw a free-kick from the edge of the box blocked, before Cole scuffed the follow-up wide, as that let-off seemed to spark life back into City. But Bodin had another chance when he slipped past Francis, over to fire wide from six yards out. Doyle and Jake Richards then replaced McDonald and Mitchell as Caldwell introduced fresh legs.

And in the 70^th minute, City took the lead, and in some style. The ball was worked to Alli on the right hand side. The Irishman cut in and let fly from 25 yards on his left foot with a swerving dipping finish that left Crocombe only watching. It was an incredible strike for a sixth of his season, and a contender for goal of the season as it was right in the top corner.

Cole had a free-kick blocked as City pushed for a third. Bowyer threw on a raft of subs for the hosts, with one of them, top scorer Danilo Orso curling an effort wide as they tried to rescue a point. Whitworth then under pressure from the sub did well to claim a cross under his own crossbar.

Six minutes of stoppage-time were added-on by the referee and in the second of them, McMillan had to make a vital interception to turn a cross behind. Sweeney’s header from that corner was straight at Whitworth as Exeter held on for the win.

It was a vital three points and the early Christmas present the fans needed. Exeter City are back in action on Boxing Day when they host Bristol Rovers at St James Park

Exeter City: (3-4-3) – Shaun MacDonald, Jack McMillan, Tristan Crama (Jack Fitzwater, 25), Ed Francis, Demetri Mitchell (Kamari Doyle, 67), Ryan Woods (Caleb Watts, 90), Kevin McDonald (Jake Richards, 67), Ilmari Niskanen, Jack Aitchison, (Reece Cole, 45) Millenic Alli, Josh Magennis

Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Vincent Harper

Booking: Woods, McDonald, Alli, Richards