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Exeter City hope defeat serves as wake-up call so Grecians bounce back

Exeter City hope defeat serves as wake-up call so Grecians bounce back


GARY Caldwell hopes that Tuesday’s defeat to Reading will serve as a wake-up call to his Exeter City players ahead of today’s trip to Huddersfield Town.

The City boss, who marked his two-year anniversary with the club on Thursday, has been stating for some time that he felt his players were playing well within themselves and had been riding their luck on occasions.

That will only get you so far and on Tuesday, City’s luck ran out as the Royals raced into a two-goal lead against a City side that were miles off where they needed to be on the first half. Caldwell’s double change at the brealk had the desired effect, but the Grecians had left themselves with too much to do in overturning that deficit and ultimately slipped to a 2-1 loss.

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A similar start today against a side riding high in fifth – Exeter are tucked in behind the Terriers in sixth, but only on goals scored – will not be tolerated as the Grecians go in search of another away day win.

Dejection for Jack McMillan of Exeter City after the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Reading at St James Park, Devon on 22 October 2024. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Dejection for Jack McMillan of Exeter City after the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Reading at St James Park, Devon on 22 October 2024. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

“If you’re going to lose a game that’s the way to lose it, putting everything on the line right until the last second, creating chances, people running forward trying to score and obviously get back in the game,” Caldwell said “But it was a big learning as well from the start of the game.

“We can’t start games that slow and that sloppy against a team that are going to be that aggressive. There was lots to take from the game, both in a learning capacity and also in finding out about the squad and the character in the squad. When we are down, we know that we’re going to come out fighting. We’re going to give everything to get back in the game, so the second half performance, we definitely need to take it into Saturday.”

Ilmari Niskanen broke his duck for the Grecians, at the 49th attempt, but in truth, he could - and perhaps should - have had a hat-trick. There is no denying the Finnish nternational, who celebrates his 27th birthday tomorrow, is a popular figure with staff, players and fans alike and it was just a shame that his goal did not have more meaning.

Hopefully, though, this will be the first of many as the former Dundee United man often finds himself in some good goalscoring positions.

Goal celebrations for Ilmari Niskanen of Exeter City after beating Joel Pereira, Goalkeeper of Reading during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Reading at St James Park, Devon on 22 October 2024. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Goal celebrations for Ilmari Niskanen of Exeter City after beating Joel Pereira, Goalkeeper of Reading during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Reading at St James Park, Devon on 22 October 2024. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

“I am disappointed that it wasn’t a goal you could really celebrate because it was just getting us back into the game. If the one off the post had went in I think the knee slide was coming back out!” Caldwell said in reference to his celebration when the Finn scored in training before the Reading game.

“He was outstanding in the game. I think Ilmari is a player that the supporters, the staff, the players love and you see in every single game, whether he plays good or bad, he gives absolutely everything for the cause.

“It’s something he’s been working on. He’s getting more and more opportunities, but for him to score and play as well as he did, delighted for him. Hopefully that’s the first of many goals.

“He had so many chances because of his desire to get in the areas where you score goals, but then it’s his quality and the finish. Actually, the goal he scored was probably the hardest chance he had, so he shows he can do it. Now he has to keep that belief and that consistency in his actions and if he does that then I’m sure he’ll score many more.”

Defeat to Reading dropped City down a place, while Huddersfield went above them with a goalless draw at Wrexham. Caldwell knows them well, though, having taken in their recent 3-1 win over Matt Taylor’s Bristol Rovers.

“They’re one of the best teams in this league,” Caldwell said. “They’re very well organised, they have a clear identity, how they want to play is very similar to Barnsley when Michael Duff was there, so a very, very tough game where we have to be 100 per-cent at it both in and out of possession and the lessons we have to learn from Tuesday, we definitely have to take into the game.

“I am looking forward to it it’s a fantastic stadium it’s always a good crowd there so really looking forward to the challenge.”