Well that’s what he hope anyway, but the way things are going at the moment, that might be less than expectation. I wish there was some sort of positive spin I could put on the trip to Newport last weekend, but it was just poor. The football lacked any quality (on both sides), the ref blew for absolutely everything (apart from Hunt’s desperate attempt to haul down Matty Jacobs to prevent their goal), and the popped up U’s kids were just embarrassing. My high point – had a lovely afternoon with Alfie, the Newport stewards (and the police) were as first rate as ever, in spite of some severe provocation at times, and the chips were excellent.
Whilst we were in Newport purgatory, tomorrow’s opponents Exeter City were doing what we failed to do, holding on to a lead at Shrewsbury, albeit their goal came just four minutes from the end of normal time. That win moved them up to mid-table, but given how early in the season we are, still only two points ahead of the U’s.
Form is temporary…
This time last season, after nine games we were 20th with eight points, so from a glass half-full perspective you could say 19th and ten points is ahead of last season’s curve? It just doesn’t really feel like it right now, but 3pts on Saturday will no doubt brighten everyone’s outlook. Moses Sesay ‘tops’ the goal scoring on three goals, Harry with two and a bunch of others on one goal. Therein is the problem, Moses and Harry are midfielders, it’s the men up front who are struggling to make an impression.
Played for both
Considering we’re on virtually the opposite sides of the country, the number of players who made the journey (directly or indirectly) is actually quite impressive. As I mentioned in my previous preview, that inevitably includes Jamie Cureton, but it also includes Matt Jay. I remember the buzz amongst supporters when Matt Bloomfield signed him in January 2023. Matt Jay had always been a thorn in our side when he played against us, and he seemed a real coup.
The signs were there though, on Grecian forums – despite his folk hero status, and many sorry to see him go, no one was really surprised given his first team opportunities at League 1 Exeter were few and far between. A drop down to League 2 could have been just what his career needed. Sadly though, it didn’t really work out here either, and after 39 appearances spanning three seasons (and just one goal scored), we agreed to part company, and Matt Jay returned to the West Country at Torquay United, where he combines playing for the first team and recently appointed as Head of Youth.
There are loads of others, so recollections/ recommendations gladly received.
Head to head
To date, we’ve played Exeter City 80 times in the League (W26, D22, L32), five times in various cup competitions (W2, D1, L2), and twice in the play-offs (W1, L1) – obviously the latter were the home and away legs of the 2020 Covid play-offs. We hold the unenviable record of being the first team to go out of the FA Cup without conceding a goal, after 0-0 draws home and away in the 1991 FA Cup 1st Round and then losing the newly introduced penalty shoot-out 2-4.
Games to remember: A 5-1 victory at St James Park back in 1985 under Cyril Lea, a 4-0 victory under Jock Wallace at Layer Road as we flirted with relegation to the conference in 1989, and of course John Ward’s 5-1 demolition of a very poor Grecian outfit in 2011. Games best forgotten: the aforementioned Cyril Lea’s in 1984 losing 3-4 at Layer Road, a 0-5 battering at St James Park for Jimmy Allen back in 1951, and a few other matches down there where we’ve conceded four, but nothing compares to the 1-6 defeat for Steve Ball’s U’s back in 2020 during lockdown (Matt Jay scored a brace).
Line-up
So in addition to Newport County, we now also know that Kouassi is out for quite a while. I must admit, starting with no recognised strikers on the pitch at Newport was somewhat baffling, and given the performance, hopefully an experiment we won’t see again. With no criticism of Oscar, we did marginally improve once Bradley replaced him, so fingers-crossed we stick with that tomorrow. We can’t not start Moses, you just never know whether you’re going to get dribbling wizardry or wizardly dribbles served up – and often both in the same game.
Lo-TutalaIandoloDigbyTuckerHuntPayneWilliams (Jay)LubalaAndersonSesayIhionvien Substitutes: Smith Chiwome Harvey Kuffour Thorn Roberts Terry
Another tough game looms, and with following fixtures away at Chesterfield and Northampton, and then home to Walsall, now is definitely the time to get three points on the board. By the end of the month, we could be firmly in the play-off promotion hunt…or potentially in a lot of trouble – fingers crossed. Tomorrow will be tight, but I have to believe we can get the result – 2-1 to the U’s with Bradley to get us off the mark.
Weather watch
There’ll probably be some rain about before kick-off, but that should have dried up by 3pm. It’ll be patchy cloud for the game, about 13-14 degrees and with a moderate breeze from the north, hopefully helping our attack towards the south stand.
Up the U’s! [Post edited 16 Oct 19:43]
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