Exeter City have lessons to learn after stoppage-time defeat

Exeter City have lessons to learn after stoppage-time defeat


Exeter City midfielder Ryan Woods admitted the Grecians were frustrated with the manner of their defeat to Blackpool and that they need to learn lessons. A slow start saw City fall behind and having seemingly grabbed a late equaliser, conceded the winner deep into stoppage-time.

CJ Hamilton put the Tangerines ahead with 19 minutes on the clock when a long throw wasn’t dealt with and the forward was left alone to finish. Blackpool probably should have been further ahead, but City rallied, and in the 88 th minute, Ed Francis curled home a free-kick to equalise.

But Steve Bruce’s men snatched a late win in the new boss’ first game. City couldn’t cope with an onslaught of late corners and from the fourth in a row, James Husband headed home from close range to give them a first win of the season.

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Exeter have a shocking record at Bloomfield Road where they have never won, and remarkably, scored for only the second time in 11 visits. That should have been enough for a point, but ultimately, Gary Caldwell’s men came away with nothing.

Ryan Woods of Exeter City during the EFL League One match between Blackpool and Exeter City at Bloomfield Road Stadium, Blackpool on 14 September 2024. Photo: Jake Manuell/PPAUK
Ryan Woods of Exeter City during the EFL League One match between Blackpool and Exeter City at Bloomfield Road Stadium, Blackpool on 14 September 2024. Photo: Jake Manuell/PPAUK -Credit:Jake Manuell/PPAUK

“We are really frustrated with the way we started the game and the final couple of minutes as well,” Woods said. “We scored a great goal and then we are defending for seven minutes when we should go on and try and score a second.

“We are a young group and mistakes will happen at times and we have to hope we will learn from them. It will take a bit of time but we were all young once and things like this happen, so it is all about how we learn and hope we don’t make the same mistakes again

“None of us were happy half time as it wasn’t us. We have showed how good we can be but we have come to a team low on confidence and given them a bit of a leg up, perhaps a bit of naivety, but we can learn from these kinds of games, but have to learn quickly, and don’t do it again

“In the second half we were a lot better, the better side, and the subs come on, Ed scores an unbelievable goal and it was brilliant to get back into it and we are really disappointed we couldn’t at least take a point.”