Exeter City hoping for turnaround in form when Arsenal visit in EFL Trophy
The Grecians host Arsenal’s U21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.
Exeter City will be hoping for a turnaround in their recent fortunes when the Grecians host Arsenal’s U21s in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. City have lost four in a row in League One, and five of the last six.
City have progressed to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup for the first time since 1989, but it is fair to say that this cup competition is well down the list of priorities for Gary Caldwell’s men. Indeed, with Saturday’s trip to Bristol Rovers having been postponed due to international call-ups, you almost feel it is a game that City kind of wish wasn’t taking place so they could have a full fortnight
How strong a side Exeter will field remains to be seen. Most of the first team squad are expected to be given the night off, although there are several who could do with the game time either with them on the injury comeback trail, or having not quite managed to break into the starting eleven.
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The youngsters who featured in the opener against Reading will also be looking to make amends for what happened three weeks ago. On that occasion, City were humiliated in a 9-0 defeat, the worst they have ever suffered at St James Park and the equal worst in the club’s history.
That loss has put City on the backfoot if they want to progress to the knockout stages – you’d think goal difference wouldn’t favour the Grecians if it came to it – but victory on Tuesday would ensure that the chance of progression remains in their own hands. Reading top the group on three points, Arsenal have two, Swindon one, and City none. Any defeat though effectively ends City’s chances, even if depending on the results, mathematically they might still be in contention.
“We will have a think,” Caldwell said, when asked if having ten days off after Tuesday before the next League One action might mean a stronger than expected team features. “We always prepare for the next game so we will now start to think about Arsenal tomorrow.
“We will assess, recover, and pick a team to be compet
itive and go and win the game. We will see how the players recover, and any team will be competitive and we will put out a team that can win.”
From the eleven who started on Saturday for the 1-0 defeat at home to Barnsley, most of them are unlikely to be involved from the off on Tuesday, although perhaps Harry Kite and Jack Aitchison, both of whom have not long since returned from injury, could get more game time, and with a dearth of centre backs fit, one of the back three of Alex Hartridge, Will Aimson or Pierce Sweeney might need to start.
Of the seven players named on the bench though, six of whom could well start, with Yanic Wildschut, on international duty with Suriname, the exception. Gary Woods is likely to replace Vil Sinialso, away with Finland in goal, while Sonny Cox, Kyle Taylor and Jake Richards would all expect to start, as would fellow academy products Pedro Borges and Mitch Beardmore.
Ryan Trevitt and Admiral Muskwe, both of whom returned from injury at the weekend, could potentially feature as well, depending on how fit they are and if Caldwell wishes to risk them. The match kicks off at 7.15pm
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