Exeter City will be looking to end 2024 in style when they host Crawley Town on Sunday. After wins over Burton Albion and Bristol Rovers, the Grecians will look to ensure it has been a very Merry Christmas with three consecutive victories.

Having come from behind in back-to-back games to win, City will be looking to pick up another three points and move closer towards the top of the table. Boxing Day triumph took Exeter up to the 12 ^th and just four points off the play-offs as City are looking up.

At St James Park today will be a Crawley side who hope to arrest a run of three straight defeats. The Red Devils are in the relegation zone, but manager Gary Caldwell said that they will provide a difficult challenge, and with just three days turnaround since the Rovers fixture, assistant manager Kevin Nicholson has stressed the importance of a good recovery for the group.

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"It's not about wrapping them up in cotton wool,” Nicholson said. “It's about an active recovery. The lads have to enjoy the wins but they need to turn up at training and it all be about Crawley, whether it's on the pitch or in the gym.

"Crawley will want to put things right, and they do play good football. The guys have come in there from Gateshead and their philosophy fits the club, but we have to go out there as a group and show our home supporters what we are about, and build on a good couple of results.

"Crawley will move the ball, try and play, and are very free-flowing and open. We need to be prepared for everything and they might change. We have to concentrate on ourselves and be the best version of ourselves."

“We have to go Sunday against Crawley in what will be a difficult game, they give you problems,” Caldwell said. “But we are in a fantastic position and the second half of the season can be exciting and so much to look forward to.”

City are likely to rotate the squad, especially with Wycombe Wanderers away on New Year’s Day and then Bolton Wanderers coming to Devon on Saturday. Jake Richards and Kamari Doyle will be pushing for starts are impressive cameos off the bench, and Tristan Crama may be fit to return after a hamstring injury.

Caldwell added: “Our back three (Fitzwater, Jack McMillan and Ed Francis) were outstanding. We are asking three players that have never played together – one of which is a midfielder, one an attacking full-back and one is an out and out defender – to do a job for the team.

“Tottenham complain about it (injuries) all the time but they have £40-50 million of talent to replace it. We have a group of players who are fantastic, work hard every day, but it is a makeshift back three, but they were outstanding.”