Next Up: Exeter City vs Cambridge United
Another poor performance without a goal in a 1-0 defeat at Newport means City’s start to life after Jayden Stockley has not yet gone according to plan, and Matt Taylor’s side will hope the visit of a side struggling at the foot of the table will provide a tonic. Re-signing Kane Wilson started at Newport in an unfamiliar midfield role while Randell Williams made his debut from the bench, both will be hoping for a start against Cambridge, with Lee Holmes also pressing.
A couple of seasons ago Cambridge went on something of a spending spree, forcing their chairman to state this was not a result of spending the money from their FA Cup exploits the previous season. However, things don’t appear to have gone according to plan and the Us come into Saturday’s trip to Devon hovering just above the drop zone albeit enjoying a new lease of life under new manager Colin Calderwood, with three straight wins following a 6-0 hammering by Paul Tisdale’s MK Dons on New Years Day. They twice came from behind against Northampton last Saturday before a last gasp winner. Jeavani Brown is the club’s top league scorer and has seven in all competitions, although the creative spark is likely to come from George Maris. Experienced keeper David Forde missed last week’s win, meaning Dimitar Mitov was in goal.
Mitov was also the custodian back in August when City visited, and he had a night to forget as he conceded soft goals to Stockley and Forte to ensure a 2-0 City victory. Last season’s match at the Park was on the opening day, with Reuben Reid taking just five minutes to open his and City’s accounts for the season in a 1-0 win. Once something of a bogey team for City, fortunes have been somewhat reversed in recent years aside from 2016/17, with City winning six, drawing one and losing two (both in 16/17) since Cambridge returned to the league. Despite this Cambridge still have the league head to head lead with 23 wins to City’s 19 (11 draws). Details of the last 44 encounters can be found at http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?p=9355
The match officials for the game will be:-
Referee: Michael Salisbury
Assistant Referees: Christopher Wade and Samuel Ogles
Fourth Official : Mark Pottage
Michael Salisbury has refereed three Exeter games, the most recent being the 3-1 win over Cheltenham in September. Details can be found http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?s=michael+salisbury