Next Up: York City at Home
With City’s unbeaten start to the league season ending at Morecambe, Paul Tisdale’s men look to get back to winning ways on Saturday with the visit of York City. Key selection dilemmas include the centre of the park, where Matt Grimes made a fine debut in the last home match but was left on the bench at Morecambe, while Pat Baldwin would expect to come straight back into the heart of the defence in place of Scot Bennett having missed Saturday’s defeat on new baby alert. Jordan Moore-Taylor is also pushing for a recall with Aaron Dawson likely to make way should he return.
Having been one of several teams battling right up to the last day last season to avoid the drop,
experienced manager Nigel Worthington was given fresh funds in the summer to bolster his squad, adding the likes of former favourite Richard Cresswell and Hereford’s former Carlisle striker Ryan Bowman to the ranks, as well as Estonian Sander Puri. It was therefore with great optimism that the Minstermen took the field this season, and a 1-0 win over last season’s playoff contenders Northampton on the opening day only added to this optimism. However, a run of a single point from their next three games, along with a 0-4 drubbing by Burnley in the Capital One Cup, plus an injury to Puri, have sought to dampen this fervour.
Cresswell, an unused sub in the 3-2 defeat at Bristol Rovers last time out, may get the gig this week especially as Bowman will be suspended having lasted just 5 minutes after coming on as sub before being invited to take an early bath.
Last season it was City who enjoyed the bragging rights in the battle of these two grand
old cathedral city clubs. With York riding high in the table in September a 1-1 draw at The Park was considered a decent result, John O’Flynn equalising late on after Michael Coulson had given York the lead. By the time the clubs met in January York were descending into freefall, and City took advantage with a 2-1 win through a spectacular own goal from York’s on loan striker Alex Rodman and a first goal for Jimmy Keohane,
Michael Potts equalising for York. Overall City hold the head-to-head lead with 22 wins to York’s 17 (7 draws).
York City have just signed Leicester City defender George Taft on loan and he is
expected to start on Saturday. Plus they’ve signed a midfielder Ryan Brobbel on loan from Middlesbrough and he will be travelling to Exeter.
Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2013/08/28/match-officials-york-city-at-home/
Our unique guide to St James Park for visiting fans: http://www.exeweb.com/2012/05/29/the-things-you-need-to-know-st-james-park-exeter/