Exeter City disappointment as 'poor' Grecians aren't at their best

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell was left disappointed by his Grecians’ side performance as they slipped to defeat away to Huddersfield Town. The Terriers secured a 2-0 victory on Saturday in a game where City never really got going.

Matty Pearson headed Huddersfield Town ahead from a corner in the first half from what was the first real chance for either side. Josh Magennis should have levelled seconds after the break but couldn’t convert the golden chance he had. And that was costly when Ben Wiles lashed home a second from distance to secure the victory for the Terriers.

The Grecians failed to create much in attack as they never seemed likely to fight back and secure anything from the long trip up north. Manager Caldwell felt that City had the best chances but didn’t sense the opportunity to come away with anything. Huddersfield rose to fifth with their triumph which extended their unbeaten run to five. Exeter dropped down to tenth in the League One table after a second defeat in a row.

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“It was a disappointing result,” Caldwell said. “We were in the game at all moments. They scored from a set piece but didn’t create anything else in the first half. I thought out of possession we were organized and hard to play around, but in possession we were really poor.

“Second half we were on the front foot, looked better, created a great opportunity for Josh, were really in the game and we give another poor goal away. We are disappointed, we lacked a bit of belief today, some of the play was good but didn’t have that extra step and aggression we needed and we have to learn from to win more consistently.

“We have to run and be more aggressive. We have to push to be a threat, sustain attacks more. We have to work harder and believe more to win in these big stadiums.

“We had the best chances, they scored a set piece and a 35 yard shot. We had the better chances, had the opportunity to win and we have not sensed and grabbed it. We have to dust ourselves down and go again, we need to have more belief to win these big matches.”

Following the 2-1 home defeat to Reading on Tuesday night, Caldwell made four changes to the side. Out went Mustapaha Carayol, Ed Francis and Sonny Cox, who dropped to the bench, while Johnly Yfeko missed out entirely with injury.

In came Ben Purrington for his first League One start since April, while Kamari Doyle, Millenic Alli and Magennis were restored to the starting eleven. Reece Cole, for the first time in six week, after injury, was on the bench.

It was a cagey opening with both sides struggling to threaten either goal but with the first real chance, the Terriers took the lead. A corner was swung in and Pearson was left with too much space and the defender powered his header home despite the best efforts of Joe Whitworth to keep it out. It was a very avoidable goal to have conceded as City had sloppily given the ball away before the corner.

Whitworth was called into action again to deny Mickel Miller as the Grecians hadn’t got going. Danny Ward slotted home what he thought was a second when a gaping hole in the City backline seemed to have opened up, only to be denied by the offside flag. Tristan Crama then had to make a vital interception to deny Wiles, although the midfielder should have finished the chance before the Frenchman could stop him.

City failed to have a shot in the first half, but inside 30 seconds of the second, Exeter should have been level. Sweeney swung in a cross, Magennis met it eight yards out, but his header didn’t have the pace on it as Jacob Chapman kept it out.

City had been the better of the two sides in the second half, but just after the hour, Michael Duff’s men doubled their lead. Wiles was given far too much time and space in the middle of the park, no-one in the red and white closed him down, and he let fly with an effort that shot into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later, City should have pulled one back, and again Magennis had the chance. The ball broke to the striker but on his weaker left foot, he sliced over from close range when it looked easier to score. That was that despite a raft of changes, the Grecians failed to really threaten as they were beaten 2-0.

Exeter City are back in action on Tuesday night when they travel to Bristol Rovers in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. And while they are already through, they are targeting a win to ensure they top the group and have a home last 32 tie.

“We will look at everything,” Caldwell said. “We want to win, that’s the first aim, to be the group winners, but we have to look and injured players coming back, younger players who deserve the opportunity.”