Exeter City 'punished' as Grecians bow out of EFL Trophy

Exeter City defender Ben Purrington said that the Grecians were punished for errors as they exited the EFL Trophy to Birmingham City. Exeter more than matched the Blues for large portions of the cup tie at St James Park, but were beaten 2-1 having gifted them both goals.

The first goal came when City tried to play out from the back and it went horribly wrong, and Luke Harris was able to coolly slot home a finish in off the post. The winner ten minutes from time came when a hopeful cross was swung into the box, and Keshi Anderson was able to volley in at the back post.

In between Exeter had levelled when Pierce Sweeney had scored his first goal since April 2023 when his curling corner went straight into the back of the net. And they had enough chances to take the lead and win the game, including Jay Bird twice seeing strikes cleared off the line, but ultimately, City didn’t take their chances, and Birmingham did.

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

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

“We stuck in for the full game and gave them a tough game,” Purrington said. “If we score at 1-1, and it looked like it was in on the pitch but not been given, but if that goes in and we get that goal we have something to hold on to.

“They are a very good side and they punished us in the end and got the result they came for and wanted. We limited them to little but good teams punish you when you switch off for a second.

“They are a good side, so we have to take the positives from the way we played. Good teams score goals in moments and moments change games. We will learn from the result against the biggest and best team in the competition and will take it into the league.

“The Christmas period is hectic, the whole squad will be needed, and we hope to improve, grind out results, and climb the table.”

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. Sweeney drew the Grecians level when he scored directly from a corner, his first goal in 18 months.

Bird missed two golden opportunities to put Exeter ahead when he saw efforts cleared off the line when it looked easier to score. And that was costly as with the minutes to go, Anderson volleyed in on the angle to make it 2-1 and put the Blues through.

Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they host Barnsley in League One, where they will hope to return to winning ways as the tough run of fixtures continues.

“There are so many positives we can take from the game,” manager Gary Caldwell added. “We have to take that performance into Saturday but improve the little details to get better in the league and the FA cup.

“We have had a tough run of games, have improved performance levels, but not got the points we wanted. But we have to know in the bigger games the details are so important and if we get everything right, we can beat these teams.

“It is a big Christmas period but with the health of the squad and players coming back, a period where it is important to pick up points and hopefully looking up and at an FA Cup run as well.”