Exeter City drawn away to Walsall in Carabao Cup first round

Exeter City will face League Two side Walsall in the first round of this season’s Carabao Cup. The draw was made by former Chelsea, Leicester and Derby defender Frank Sinclair and ex-Leeds United, Liverpool and Scotland international Gary McAllister, live on Sky Sports News yesterday morning, with matches due to be played on the week commencing August 12.

Every game of the Carabao Cup will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and details on the date and kick-off times will be announced in due course.

The Grecians have not met Walsall since they were promoted from League Two in 2021/22. A 2-2 draw at St James Park was followed by a 2-0 win at the Bescot Stadium with goals from Tim Dieng and Cheick Diabate.

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However, City have a poor record against the Saddlers in the League Cup. The first time the two sides met was in 1966/67 when Walsall were 2-1 winners at St James Park in a third round clash.

They then met again in 1993/94 when Alan Ball’s Exeter won 2-1 on aggregate in a first round tie before Walsall won a two-legged first round tow in 1997/98 3-0 on aggregate. The most recent clash came in August 2001 when Walsall again prevailed, this time winning 1-0 at St James Park.

Gary Caldwell’s Grecians enjoyed a fine run in the competition last season, beating Crawley Town, Stevenage and then Premier League side Luton Town before losing to Middlesbrough in the fourth round.

Meanwhile, the Grecians’ Bristol Street Motors group was finalised yesterday and it is the youngsters of Tottenham Hotspur who will join them, Bristol Rovers and Swindon Town in Group G.

Full Carabao Cup first round draw - South: Cambridge United vs Queens Park Rangers, Walsall vs Exeter City, Crawley Town vs Swindon Town, Oxford United vs Peterborough, Norwich City vs Stevenage, Bromley vs AFC Wimbledon, Portsmouth vs Millwall, Northampton Town vs Wycombe Wanderers, Bristol City vs Coventry City, Cardiff City vs Bristol Rovers, Charlton Athletic vs Birmingham City, Watford vs MK Dons, Swansea City vs Gillingham, Plymouth Argyle vs Cheltenham, Leyton Orient vs Newport County, Colchester United vs Reading,

North: Salford City vs Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United vs Crewe Alexandra, Carlisle United vs Stoke City, Leeds United vs Middlesbrough, Barrow vs Port Vale, Burton Albion vs Blackpool, Tranmere Rovers vs Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town vs West Bromwich Albion, Shrewsbury Town vs Notts County, Lincoln City vs Harrogate Town, Derby County vs Chesterfield, Bolton Wanderers vs Mansfield, Preston North End vs Sunderland, Sheffield United vs Wrexham, Huddersfield Town vs Morecambe, Wigan Athletic vs Barnsley.