Next Up: Stevenage vs Exeter City

City took some positives from Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to high-flying Cardiff in the EFL Trophy, but it’s now three successive scoreless defeats in all competitions, a record Gary Caldwell will want to turn around very quickly. To do that this weekend will be tricky given their opponents’ flying start to the season. As expected Caldwell rang the changes on Tuesday with just three of Saturday’s starters kicking off the match, so the majority of the first XI will be rested up ahead of Saturday. Reece Cole continued his comeback from injury while Johnly Yfeko made his season debut, and both will hope to be in at least the matchday squad at Stevenage. One player likely to be missing however is Jack Aitchison, who was withdrawn early on against Port Vale.

The pundits may have overlooked Stevenage after a mediocre second campaign in the third tier, but Alex Revell has quietly gone about assembling an impressive squad with the signings of players like Chem Campbell, Jordan Houghton and Beryly Lubala. In addition former City striker Jamie Reid seemed to recover his form in the early part of the season with five goals to his name already, and as a result Boro go into Saturday’s match with 16 points from their first seven fixtures. Unlike City Stevenage weren’t in midweek EFL Trophy action as their opener, a 5-1 win at AFC Wimbledon, took place a couple of weeks ago. Consistency of selection has been one reason for their great start with eight players having started all seven league fixtures.

City have a great record against Stevenage, but won’t have happy memories of this match last season, coming as it did during the defensive crisis prior to the deadline day signings of MacDonald and Turns. City led through an early Magennis penalty but the hosts roared back through King, Roberts (2) and Kemp in a 4-1 thrashing. That was revenge for City’s 2-0 win at the Park back in September, Francis and Doyle scoring the goals in a 2-0 win. City’s league head to head lead remains healthy at 15-6, with 11 draws.

The match officials for the game will be:-

Referee: Craig Hicks
Assistant Referees: Steven Plane and Andrew Hickman
Fourth Official: Aaron Farmer

The last time Craig Hicks took charge of an Exeter Game was last September, Spurs U21s were the visitors and City won 2-0.

Interview with Gary

Interview with Joe Whitworth