Next Up: Away to Rochdale

That 4-0 win at Scunthorpe, the last time City won, seems like a distant memory now, and it is important that Paul Tisdale’s side hits upon the winning formula again if the Grecians are to remain promotion challengers rather than looking over their shoulder. The under 21 side continues to show the way with another stunning win over Premier League opposition, and several of the players who featured in Wednesday night’s 2-0 win are set to feature at Rochdale especially in light of Tisdale’s scathing post-match comments about some of the more senior players in the squad. The match provided a welcome opportunity for Danny Butterfield to continue his return to fitness, and he’ll be hoping to start at Spotland, while Jamie Reid was considered fit enough for the bench so he probably won’t be in contention for Saturday but is clearly only a couple of weeks away from a return. Tom Doherty sat out the 2-0 defeat to Southend having amassed five bookings, so he’ll be hoping to return to the side. Matt Jay made an encouraging full début and will hope to keep his place while Tom Nichols is banging at the door for a starting berth.

Rochdale, managed for the second time by Keith Hill, overcame a slow start to emerge as the promotion contenders they were billed as in pre-season, and currently sit in 3rd place, equal on points with the top two. One of the more solid sides off the pitch, this has contributed to Hill being able to assemble a side brimming with quality containing the likes of ex-Colchester forward Ian Henderson and ex-Aldershot and Walsall defender Olly Lancashire. Top scorer is Scott Hogan with 7 in all competitions, followed by Henderson with 5.

Last season, like with so many of City’s fixtures, it was the away sides who emerged victorious on both occasions. In December City travelled north and came away with a 3-2 win with goals from Baldwin and O’Flynn (2) putting City 3-0 up, Terry Gornell pulled it back to 3-2 before getting himself sent off for a lunge on Kevin Amankwaah. Rochdale got their revenge in April, contributing to City’s wretched end to the season and sparking painful memories of the previous season (when City led 2-0 until around 10 minutes to go only to lose 3-2). On this occasion Cureton’s goal looked to have won it, only for Henderson and Grant to score in the last five minutes to completely turn things around. It is City, however, who hold the overall head-to-head lead with 23 wins in Football League fixtures to Rochdale’s 19 (18 draws).

Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2013/11/19/match-officials-away-at-rochdale/

Ground Guide: http://www.exeweb.com/2012/04/07/the-things-you-need-to-know-spotland/

Keith Hill on Exeter on the Rochdale official website:-

Exeter are an excellent side, they always have been, they’ve got an excellent manager who’s very intelligent and understands the game. He’s been patient with his own career and I think he’s just working out his own team and the league again this season and you have to be able to do that.