Exeter City's trip to Spain pays off as Grecians buzzing after routine win

Exeter City’s four day trip to Spain has paid off as the Grecians made it four unbeaten since their return as they moved comfortably clear of any relegation danger. The most routine of 2-0 victories over Mansfield Town saw City move up to 16 ^th in League One as they kept a third successive clean sheet.

The Grecians went ahead with only eight minutes played. Demetri Mitchell pounced after a cross was palmed into the danger zone and he blasted the finish into the roof of the net. Angus MacDonald powered home a header from a corner minutes into the second half to give the Grecians that 2-0 lead they had deserved and in complete control.

Caleb Watts then saw one effort cleared off the line, another rattle the crossbar, as City created plenty of chances to put the game beyond doubt. Mitchell in the first half had a stonewall penalty bafflingly turned down as well.

The Stags were woeful and looked like a side winless in 14, but City were in complete control throughout at St James Park. From looking over their shoulder – and briefly last Saturday in the ‘live’ league table being in the bottom four, they are now 16 ^th , and ten points clear of 21 ^st place Burton Albion, and with a game in hand.

“I’ve been in football a long time, been on trips and seen how it galvanizes and brings a group together,” manager Gary Caldwell said. “We knew it was a big part of our post-January. Bringing the players in gives us the quality we need but to bring together as a group together.

“The trip away has been a huge help for that and thank the club and players have shown it was worthwhile – and they are looking to Dubai for next week! The place is buzzing, energetic and a real energy in the group.

“I was really pleased with the team and the group and the mentality and the fight and hunger to keep a clean sheet. Some of the defending was outstanding and bodies on the line, and they had no shots on target.

“It gave us a brilliant foundation to win the game, we could have scored more, how we didn’t get a penalty I’ll never know. I am delighted with the group, we have to keep going, a lot of points to play for, and so many things we could get better but this is only the beginning and has to be a big moment to push forwards.”

Following the 2-0 win at home to Shrewsbury Town on Saturday, Caldwell made just the one change to his Exeter City side. Jack McMillan, fit again after concussion, returned to the starting line-up, with Watts dropping to the bench, and Vincent Harper not being involved in the squad.

With the first chance of the game, and with seven minutes gone, the Grecians went ahead. A free-kick was only half cleared to Pat Jones. He floated the ball back into the box where MacDonald had peeled away. The defender put a cross in which Scott Flinders could only palm away into the path of Mitchell, and he rifled into the roof of the net. It was a seventh of the season, and the perfect start.

Just before the half hour, City should have had a golden chance to double the lead. Josh Magennis flicked the ball on and Mitchell was clean through. The attacker took the ball past Flinders who wiped him out clearly. It was a stone-wall penalty, except referee Paul Howard somehow waved the appeals away – nor saw fit to book him for diving. Replays only serve to show just how bad a decision it was.

The game was briefly halted for an announcement over the tannoy asking fans to stop the ‘unacceptable chanting’. A section of Exeter fans had chanted ‘murderer’ at Mansfield’s Lucas Akins, who had pleaded guilty to causing the death of a cyclist last week. He will be sentenced on April 24.

Caldwell made a change at half-time with Watts replacing Jones, with the manager wanting some fresh legs. And within three minutes of the half, Exeter had doubled their lead. Ed Francis floated a corner to the back post, and MacDonald rose highest to power his header home. It was his first for City, and a first goal since April 2024, when he scored in a Scottish Cup semi-final.

City were purring and had Watts and then Mitchell’s touches let them down after well-worked moves. Magennis then had a good chance of his own he was played through. Flinders kept out his effort, but the striker kept it alive and pulled it back to Watts. He looked certain to score, but somehow a goalline clearance kept it out.

On the hour Joel Colwill and Tony Yogane replaced Mitchell and Francis, the latter had just picked up a booking. The Brentford loanee got on the end of a sweeping move with his first involvement, but Flinders got down well to keep the shot out. Ryan Trevitt then picked out Watts with a beautiful crossfield ball, he cut inside and let loose a powerful strike which beat Flinders, but rattled the crossbar.

Mansfield failed to threaten at all as City kept a clean sheet – a 13 ^th in League One this season – and cruised to victory. While nothing is yet secured, City can look up rather than down for the rest of the season surely now – but Caldwell is taking nothing for granted.

“We have to be consistent,” he added. “There are lots of points to play for, nothing achieved yet, and have to have the same team spirit and hunger. Nothing changes when we are winning and we have to stick to the process and it can be a very successful season. We have to be ready for Rotherham and if we do the right things, we will be disappointed if we don’t win.”

Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Rotherham United. Win that, and they could be 14 ^th .