Exe Education

Updated:

By Pete H

Right – where do we start? All of a sudden, it looks like this campaign is going to have a grandstand finale. And we’re very much a part of it. Boro’ return to the Lamex for part two of an Easter weekend double-header fresh from doing an outstanding number on Port Vale. That being four to their one. Good Friday?? Too bleedin’ right. And we haven’t even mentioned Crawley’s little contribution; going to Sid James’ Park and turning Exeter over.

 

Stevenage v Exeter City: The Lowdown

Exeter are the side we host next and the side we’re also trying to reel in if we’re to gatecrash the playoffs. The defeat to the Red Devils indoors has opened up the final spot in the top seven; four contenders are now within striking distance, and we’re one of ’em. Things aren’t quite in our hands, but three points on Monday could see ’em tumble out of the top seven – and catapult us up into their place. It’s all very exciting, don’t you think?

 

The Opposition

P23 W6 D8 L9 F21 A30; last result: Exeter City 1-0 Stevenage, 02/10/2018

It’s almost a full year since the Grecians were last in town. Alex Revell’s hattrick powered us to a 3-1 home win last season, which sunk Exeter’s chances of automatic promotion. Imagine if we can repeat that trick this time around? We wouldn’t kill off their playoff hopes for sure, but we can take it out of their hands and put at least one team between them and where they want to be. They won’t let it happen easily though.

 

The Referee

P2 W1 D0 L1 F1 A2; last result: Newport County 0-1 Stevenage, 07/04/2018

Ollie Yates isn’t a man we come across all that often. It’s the first time he’s taken charge of one of our matches this term. And it’s only the third time he’s ever reffed us. Splitting his time between Leagues One and Two, Mr Yates has overseen 35 games in total – dishing out 132 yellows at an average of nearly four a game. There have been five reds too, with the last one coming over a month ago. So, we don’t think we’re due a sending off here.

 

The Form

We’ve been in rude health over the past three games, making it a treble for the first time in 2018-19. Seeing as we’re already into unchartered waters, a fourth win on the spin hardly breaks any rules. As for the Grecians, their form has stuttered recently – just one win in five games (against Port Vale, chortle) has let us and the rest catch up. This is not the time to be giving them a route back to form.

It’s not as if they need an invitation, either. Exeter’s recent dip in form masks the fact they’re a very tricky team to deal with. They might not have won their last eight, but they’ve scored in each of ’em. They’ve found the net in each of their last seven matches on the road too. Our defence has been up to the job over the last three, but this could be a tougher challenge. Stand up to it, and we could be in a very good place with two to go.

 

• MORE ABOUT ‘EM: Exeter City club profile