Exeter City building momentum with Grecians unbeaten in three

Exeter City are starting to build some momentum as they look to pull away from relegation trouble. The Grecians are unbeaten in three after they comfortably dispatched bottom of the table Shrewsbury Town at St James Park on Saturday.

Goals from Caleb Watts – moments after Josh Magennis’ penalty was saved – and Demetri Mitchell, gave City the 2-0 win over the strugglers. Results elsewhere meant that Gary Caldwell’s men rose to 18 ^th in the League One table, but crucially, are now seven points above Burton Albion, and with two games in hand.

The first of those is on Tuesday night at home to Mansfield Town, and with the Stags on a 13-game winless run, it is a game that City will be hoping to win. And if they do, the recent revival, which has come off the back of the four-day trip to Spain, will continue to roll on.

“It was really pleasing,” winger Pat Jones said. “The win was the most important but a really good performance and it was what we needed. We knew there was a good chance to pick up three points and we have done that.

“It was a relief to get the second goal and it settled down the game a bit, and then we can breathe a bit and take the game from there. Our back three were superb, really assured, we defended the box, and a team effort to get the clean sheet.

“We are building some momentum and hope for another good result Tuesday and then to look up rather than down. We have another home game we feel we can win and hope to enjoy the games to the end of the season.”

Magennis had missed a great chance to break the deadlock when he saw his penalty saved by Jamal Blackman, which was awarded after Jones was brought down in the box. But from the resulting corner, City went ahead as Watts squeezed a header in off the post. Mitchell on the volley doubled the lead early in the second half as he struck a sweetly timed effort from just inside the box.

It was only Jones’ second start of an injury-hit season, but the Welshman is starting to show the Grecians fans what he can offer and making himself a more regular part of Gary Caldwell’s squad.

“It is really good to be here and I am enjoying it,” he added. “I am still getting my sharpness back, but I am slowly getting there, enjoyed it today, and a really good result

“Week by week I am more comfortable and playing every week helping me. I am getting sharper and sharper and have to build on it, but I am really enjoying my football so far. We felt comfortable and looked assured all game and could and should have even been more.”