Exeter City get that all-important victory to end winless run

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell was left delighted after the Grecians ended their ten game run without a victory. City had lost nine of the last ten having been on a terrible run of form, but put a hold to that sequence with a 1-0 win away to Swindon Town on Tuesday night. It may only have been an EFL Trophy tie - and a dead rubber at that with both teams already out - and the Robins fielded a much-changed side.

But having not won since September 26, the winning feeling was something City needed to experience again at full-time. The only goal of the game came after six minutes. James Scott's cross was met by Yanic Wildschut, and his flicked effort deflected in off a defender to go down as an Harrison Minturn own goal.

The Grecians controlled the contest against the League Two side and there was little in the way of action at either end in a game that won't live long in the memory for what was Swindon's lowest ever crowd

But 78 away fans who saw the 1-0 victory for City, which ended their worst run since November 2000 when they went 12 without a win., did have something to celebrate. The three points picked up almost meant they avoided the ignominy of the worst ever EFL Trophy campaign after conceding 14 and scoring 0 in the first two games.

"I said before the game, winning is important and a habit we have lost in recent weeks and we need to gain that habit tonight, so it was important that we won," Caldwell said. "We started the game extremely well, first 10-15 minutes could have scored a few goals, were on the front foot, and later on we dropped off the tempo. "Second half we had control of the game. We were delighted to get players minutes and a good exercise to build that winning confidence again.

We deserved it and could have scored more. Yanic was very good and a real threat and the disappointing thing was that it wasn't two or three after 10/15 minutes after a really good start, and the win is something to build on going into Saturday."

Caldwell made six changes from the side who were beaten at Fleetwood Town ten days ago in their last outing. Pierce Sweeney, Will Aimson, Alex Hartridge, Harry Kite and Scott all retained their places.

Shaun McDonald started in goal with Vil Sinisalo on international duty with Finland, while there were recalls for Kyle Taylor and Wildschut, with 16-year-old Jake Richards getting another start. Tom Carroll was also back after injury, as was Dion Rankine, the Chelsea loanee making a first appearance in more than two months. The Grecians were quick out of the traps against their League Two opponents and it was no surprise when just six minutes on the clock, City took the lead.

A corner was only half cleared and kept alive by Carroll. The ball was spread out to Scott on the right who drilled in a low cross, and Wildschut from six yards out flicked the ball, albeit with the aid of a deflection off defender Minturn, who was credited with the own goal. It could have been two almost instantly.

Firstly Wildschut went on a mazy run and beat three men, but his low shot went inches past the post. Taylor then forced a sprawling save from Lewis Ward, pushing a shot just wide, before Scott blazed over when found in space after a well-worked corner, and then Kite just didn't have the pace to get clear when found on the break. But that was about it in terms of chances.

Ilmari Niskanen saw a shot well saved late on, while Cheick Diabate, who surprisingly spent the second half playing as a striker, also saw a shot blocked. The closest Swindon came to an equaliser was when Aimson overhit a backpass, but McDonald was able to recover quickly enough to keep it out. It was that kind of game.

"We could have scored more, but when we are on the run we are on, winning is important, and everyone is unscathed injury-wise," Caldwell added. "There is more to come from the team.

"We had a good week of training, worked on things, seen some of it tonight, and now we have to prepare and recover for Bolton away. We are looking forward to it, we believe we can win anywhere. This was part of the prep but it was important that we won the game and can go home happy.

It wasn't an easy game, but players can be happy, we have done the job, kept a clean sheet, and now can recover to get league form back on track." It may only be the EFL Trophy, and in a dead rubber with both teams already out, but a win is a win. Exeter[3] City are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Bolton Wanderers in League One. Get the best stories delivered to your inbox every day.

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References

1. ^ Swindon Town 0 Exeter City 1 - Grecians end long winless streak with EFL Trophy victory (www.devonlive.com)
2. ^ Exeter City midfielder Reece Cole signs contract extension (www.devonlive.com)
3. ^ Exeter (www.devonlive.com)
4. ^ here (www.devonlive.com)