Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell hailed the character and personality of his Grecians side after they gave their fans an early Christmas present of a much-needed win. City came from behind for the first time this season to win as a Christmas cracker of a goal from Millenic Alli ensured they earned the 2-1 win at Burton Albion.

Under new boss Gary Bowyer, the Brewers gave them the perfect start when Billy Bodin drilled home a free-kick from the edge of the area with just seven minutes played. The Grecians though were far the better side, missed a hatful of chances before in first half stoppage-time, Josh Magennis deservedly drew City level with a close range header.

Bodin missed a great chance to restore Burton’s lead, and that was costly when Alli smashed home an incredible strike from 25 yards which went right in the top corner to put City ahead with 20 minutes to go. That was enough for all three points as City ended a six game winless run in League One with only a second win in ten in all competitions.

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“That was brilliant,” the manager, who had to watch the game from the stands after serving a touchline ban said. “The character and personality to come here, concede an early goal from a horrendous refereeing decision, and asking a big question of the belief in how we play and what we ask them to do, and the answer was incredible.

“The control we got from Kev and Woodsy who were outstanding and the chances we created and could have been more, we should have been in front at half-time, and we kept going. We were the dominant team and thoroughly deserved to win. The big thing is to score more goals and make it more comfortable, but players deserve credit for the way they reacted to a difficult situation in how we played.

“We created so many chances and worked at being better in the final third, and we can see improvements, but the way we played and controlled it and the commitment to what we are asking for is going to take us forward to a very successful season.

“We are a brilliant team when we get in the groove of controlling the game. Our possession was 70 per cent at one stage and with that we created chances and momentum but have to make it a more dominant scoreline. It was a big test of character and togetherness and we came through with flying colours.”

Caldwell made two changes to the side beaten by Barnsley last Saturday. Skipper Pierce Sweeney missed out with a calf injury which is set to rule him out for several weeks, while Caleb Watts also dropped to the bench. In came Kevin McDonald into the midfield, while Demetri Mitchell started for the first time in 14 months.

Jack McMillan lined up in the defence, while Kamari Doyle returned to the matchday 18. Despite scoring for the U21s in the Premier League Cup on Wednesday, neither Sonny Cox nor Amani Richards were in the squad.

Burton, with new manager Bowyer in charge for the first time, had the first chance when McDonald was adjudged to have handled on the edge of the box with seven minutes on the clock. And they took it. Tomas Kalinauskas laid the free-kick off to Bodin, he drilled a low strike under the ball, and despite Joe Whitworth getting a hand to it, he couldn’t keep it out. It was the perfect start for the Brewers and a terrible one for the Grecians.

City had started slowly with 25 minutes gone and were forced into a change when Tristan Crama limped off, with Jack Fitzwater the replacement. The Frenchman had picked up a hamstring injury.

It took 27 minutes for City to have a shot, and it came when Ilmari Niskanen got his head to a bouncing Alli cross, but the Finn nodded wide. Jack Aitchison and then Alli tested Max Crocombe with strikes that he managed to keep out, Ed Francis blazing over from 25 yards, before McDonald snatched at an effort 12 yards out after some pinball in the box as suddenly the chances were flowing.

NIskanen then put an effort on the stretch into the side netting after an Alli cross evaded everyone as City were dominating but couldn’t find the goal. But in first half stoppage-time, the goal finally arrived, and it was the captain for the day who got it. A patient spell of possession saw the ball worked to Alli, he teased in a beautiful cross from the right, and Magennis rose highest in the six yard box to head home his seventh of the season and it was no less than Exeter deserved.

Burton were unchanged for the second half, while Caldwell made one change, with Reece Cole replacing Aitchison. Bodin had a golden chance to make it 2-1 when City switched off and he snuck in around the back, but Whitworth did brilliantly to deny him from point-blank range.

In the 70 ^th minute, City took the lead, and in some style. The ball was worked to Alli on the right hand side. The Irishman cut in and let fly from 25 yards on his left foot with a swerving dipping finish that left Crocombe only watching. It was an incredible strike for a sixth of his season, and a contender for goal of the season as it was right in the top corner.

Six minutes of stoppage-time were added-on by the referee and in the second of them, McMillan had to make a vital interception to turn a cross behind. Ryan Sweeney’s header from that corner was straight at Whitworth as Exeter held on for the win.

“Milli was a big threat, crosses in the box a big threat, and he gets his reward with an outrageous hit,” Caldwell said of the winner. “I was begging him to pass it, but thankfully he knows better than me and it was a fantastic goal and everyone will remember it for a long time.”

Of being up in the stands, he added: “It is far easier to see from up there and I’m sure the players had a great day without me shouting at them! If it is something that works and helps us win games then I have no problem sitting up there.”

The victory for City was a first in the league since November 9 and only a second in all competitions in the last nine, as well as being the first time in the league all season they have come from behind to win. They rose up to 13 ^th in the League One table with the three points. Exeter City are back in action on Boxing Day when they host Bristol Rovers at St James Park, and Caldwell added: “We are doing all we can to give them a special season and believe we can do that. We want to put a consistency of performance and results together heading into the New Year.”