Next Up: Exeter City vs Peterborough United (EFL Trophy)

A blank Saturday, given City’s recent league form, was probably a blessing in disguise heading into the knockout stages of the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night. As group winners, City were automatically given a home draw, although Matt Taylor comes up against stiff opposition in the form of League One high-fliers Peterborough. Aaron Martin is back from suspension, but he may sit the match out as Taylor may look to give some of his fringe players a run – although Taylor may use the competition as an attempt to get his players back into form so may play a strong XI.

For Peterborough and their colourful manager Steve Evans, this competition may be something of a distraction from their main aim of promotion to the Championship, especially given their draw in the FA Cup on Saturday which means a replay against Bradford next week. As a result Evans may rest a number of players, although he has picked quite strong sides in this competition so far, with Ivan Toney amongst the scorers as they clinched their place in the knockout stages with a 2-1 win over Luton. Matt Godden has also featured with two goals to add to the 11 he has scored in other competitions.

The last meeting between the sides was in the FA Cup in 2013/14, with Peterborough leaving it late before winning 2-0 through goals from Assombalonga and Mendez-Laing. Your preview writer recalls a match in this competition at the Park in 1996/97, which City dominated only to go down 1-0 to a goal in the 89th minute.

The match officials for this game are:-

Referee: Alan Young
Assistant Referee: Kevin Morris and Christopher Husband
Fourth Official: Scott Jackson

Alan Young has refereed just the one Exeter match, and that was the defeat to Blackpool in the FA Cup a few weeks back.