Exeter City 1 Birmingham City 2 - late goal sees Grecians out of EFL Trophy

Exeter City saw their EFL Trophy dreams come to an end as they were knocked out at the last 32 stage by Birmingham City. The Grecians battled hard against the Blues but were edged out 2-1 in a competitive clash at St James Park.

Luke Harris against his former club broke the deadlock midway through the first half when City were finally punished for failed attempts to play out from the back, pouncing on a mistake, and coolly finishing. Pierce Sweeney drew the Grecians level when he scored directly from a corner.

Jay Bird missed two golden opportunities to put Exeter ahead when he saw efforts cleared off the line. Keshi Anderson saw what he thought was a winner ruled out for offside, before ten minutes from time, he did find one, volleying in on the angle to make it 2-1.

READ MORE: Exeter City 'punished' as Grecians bow out of EFL Trophy

READ MORE: Exeter City rue errors as Grecians knocked out of EFL Trophy by Birmingham City

City tried to find an equaliser to send the tie to penalties, but it proved in vain as they were knocked out of the competition. Birmingham are one step closer to Wembley, while Exeter have won just one of the last seven in all competitions now.

Following the 2-0 defeat to Stockport County on Saturday, Gary Caldwell made six changes to his Exeter City side. In came Shaun MacDonald, Jack Fitzwater, Ben Purrington, Kevin McDonald, Jake Richards, and Jay Bird, with Joe Whitworth and Ilmari Niskanen on the bench, with Tristan Crama, Ed Francis, Ryan Woods and Caleb Watts not involved. Birmingham made eight changes, with Harris among those starting, while Jay Stansfield was on the bench.

The Grecians started brightly and Vincent Harper was inches away from getting onto a through ball form Jack Aitchison. The Scot then saw a shot after a corner was half-cleared well saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

But in the ninth minute, the Blues should have gone ahead. MacDonald produced a woeful clearance as City tried to play out from the back, but passed it straight to Anderson. He had almost an open goal to fire into it, but somehow, he blazed the finish wide. It was a huge let off and almost a gift of Exeter’s own making.

Anderson then dragged a shot just wide, while Marc Leonard also saw an effort saved as Chris Davies’ men were growing in control. And in the 22^nd minute, Birmingham took the lead and it was gifted to them.

City tried to play out from the back, but Jack McMillan was caught in possession. His ball back to Purrington was short of pace. The defender seemingly fouled a Blues man as he tried to rescue it, but the ball broke to Harris, and the Fulham loanee calmly slotted the finish in off the post to make it 1-0. The goal had been coming as City failed to heed the warnings.

The equaliser though when it came ten minutes later was from an unlikely source. Sweeney was pulled up by referee Sam Mulhall for trying to take the corner from well outside the circle – having got away with one earlier in the game. But having moved the ball into the quadrant, the skipper swung in a delicious cross that evaded everyone and flew into the far corner. Half-hearted appeals for a foul on Peacock-Farrell were waved away, as the captain celebrated his first goal since April 2023.

Dion Sanderson headed just wide for Birmingham as they looked to restore their lead. Millenic Alli fired just over for the Grecians on the break, as the game went into half-time all square with City very much in the contest.

Caldwell made one change at half time with Reece Cole replacing Aitchison, and the sub forced the goalkeeper into a save from a dipping free-kick with his first involvement. Taylor Gardner Hickman for Birmingham fired just wide from 20 yards for the visitors.

On the hour though, Exeter should have gone ahead. Alli nodded the ball down from a Harper cross to Bird. The striker had not one but two chances from inside the six yard box, but a combination of Ben Davies and Peacock-Farrell made brilliant blocks to both of them to keep it out, but he should have buried the chance. Magennis then replaced Bird, while Alfie May came on for the Blues.

Paik Sueng-Ho blazed over after a corner was only punched out to the sub, before Anderson with an outstretched foot just couldn’t control a delightful cross. Alli for City again forced a good save out of the keeper, before then curling over after a switch counter-attack.

Anderson thought he had restored Birmingham’s lead with a drilled finish from the edge of the box, only to see the assistant’s flag raised for offside, much to the outrage of the visiting players. Harris then saw a header save as both sides were pushing for a winner in an increasingly end-to-end cup tie.

In the 78^th minute though, Birmingham did restore the lead. Gardner Hickman teased in a cross, Anderson got the wrong side of Purrington, and he guided a volleyed finish back across goal to make it 2-1.

Caldwell responded by bringing on Niskanen and Demetri Mitchell for McDonald and Harper, and the Kamari Doyle for Richards with the last roll of the dice. Mitchell saw an effort from distance saved as City tried to find an equaliser. On the break, May nearly sealed it but MacDonald was equal to the task.

Five minutes of stoppage-time were added-on. In the third of them May had a goal ruled out for offside. It didn’t matter though as the game was won.

Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they host Barnsley in League One.

Exeter City: (3-4-3) – Shaun MacDonald, Pierce Sweeney, Jack Fitzwater, Ben Purrington, Jack McMillan, Kevin McDonald (Demi Mitchell, 79), Jake Richards (Kamari Doyle, 83)_, Vincent Harper (Ilmari Niskanen, 79), Jack Aitchison (Reece Cole, 45), Jay Bird (Josh Magennis, 62), Millenic Alli

Subs: Joe Whitworth, Sonny Cox,

Booking: Alli, Cole, Doyle