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Exeter City
League One | Gameweek 43
Apr 6, 2024 at 3pm UK
St James Park
Stevenage

Exeter
1 - 0
Stevenage

Cole (38')
Carroll (22'), Hemmings (69'), Thompson (90+3'), Sweeney (90+3')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Butler (7'), Thompson (47'), Watts (86')

Preview: Exeter City vs. Stevenage - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Exeter City and Stevenage, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Stevenage will be bidding to get their top-six challenge back on track in League One when they continue their campaign away to Exeter City on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors are currently eighth in the table, three points behind sixth-placed Lincoln City, while Exeter occupy 15th position, boasting 51 points from their 41 league games this term.


Match preview

Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell celebrates after the match on September 26, 2023© Reuters

Exeter finished 14th in League One last season following their promotion from League Two, and it does appear that the club will be securing three straight campaigns at this level of football.

Indeed, a record of 14 wins, nine draws and 18 defeats from 41 matches has seen Gary Caldwell's side collect 51 points, which has left them in 15th position in the table.

The Grecians are 11 points clear of the relegation zone, so they will not be pulled into any trouble in the final stages of the campaign unless something drastic happens, and their recent form has been impressive.

Indeed, Exeter will bring a five-game unbeaten run into this contest, three of which have been victories, overcoming Shrewsbury Town, Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town over the last few weeks.

The home side will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 success over Cheltenham, and they held Stevenage to a 1-1 draw when the two teams locked horns in the reverse game back in December.

Stevenage manager Steve Evans on January 29, 2023© Reuters

Stevenage, meanwhile, are bidding to secure back-to-back promotions, having finished second in League Two last term to book their spot in League One for the 2023-24 campaign.

The Boro boast 64 points from their 41 league matches this season, which has left them in eighth position in the table, just three points behind sixth-placed Lincoln in the race for the playoffs.

Steve Evans's side have hit a bad patch at a vital stage of the season, though, with the team failing to win in the league since the end of February, drawing five and losing two of their last seven matches.

Stevenage suffered back-to-back losses against Peterborough United and Leyton Orient in the middle of March before drawing their last three with Carlisle United, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic.

Evans's team have the sixth-best away record in League One this season, picking up 32 points from 21 matches, and they will be heading to an Exeter outfit that have picked up just 26 points from their 21 home fixtures.

Exeter City League One form:

Stevenage League One form:


Team News

Exeter City's Demetri Mitchell celebrates scoring their first goal with teammates on September 26, 2023© Reuters

Exeter were without the services of Ben Purrington for Monday's clash with Cheltenham due to the concussion protocol, but he should be back in the squad for this contest.

Alex Hartridge entered the side for his first appearance since January as Purrington's replacement, but it seems likely that the latter will return to the XI on Saturday.

The rest of the side could remain unchanged, with Mohamed Eisa featuring down the middle, while there will be a spot in a wide position for Jack Aitchison, who has scored four league goals this term.

As for Stevenage, Carl Piergianni was back in the side against Charlton on Monday after a suspension, and the captain will again be in the XI on Saturday afternoon.

Head coach Evans, who will be back on the touchline following a ban, could name an unchanged side for this weekend's contest.

Jamie Reid has been in excellent form this season, finding the back of the net on 17 occasions in League One, but he has failed to register in the third tier of English football since February 10, drawing a blank in his last nine outings at this level of football.


Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Sinisalo; Sweeney, Aimson, Purrington; Niskanen, Carroll, Woods, Wildschut; Aitchison, Eisa, Harris

Stevenage possible starting lineup:
Ashby-Hammond; James-Wildin, Vancooten, Piergianni, Butler; MacDonald, Burns, Guinness-Walker; Thompson; Reid, Roberts


SM words green background

We say: Exeter City 1-1 Stevenage

Exeter will be feeling good about themselves at the moment due to their strong form, and they will be hosting a Stevenage side that are currently struggling to put wins on the board. This match could go either way, but we are expecting the points to be shared in a low-scoring draw on Saturday.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Game History

How you voted: Exeter vs Stevenage

Exeter City
50.0%
Draw
12.5%
Stevenage
37.5%
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Bolton Wanderers' Kyle Dempsey and teammates before the match on January 7, 2024
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CPortsmouth462813578413797
3Bolton WanderersBolton462512986513587
4Peterborough UnitedPeterborough462591289612884
5Oxford UnitedOxford Utd4622111379562377
6Barnsley4621131282641876
7Lincoln CityLincoln4620141265402574
8Blackpool4621101565481773
9Stevenage4619141357461171
10Wycombe WanderersWycombe461714156055565
11Leyton Orient461811175355-265
12Wigan AthleticWigan462010166356762
13Exeter CityExeter461710194661-1561
14Northampton TownNorthampton46179205766-960
15Bristol Rovers46169215268-1657
16Charlton AthleticCharlton461120156465-153
17Reading461611196870-253
18Cambridge UnitedCambridge461212223961-2248
19Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury46139243567-3248
20Burton Albion461210243967-2846
RCheltenham TownCheltenham46128264165-2444
RFleetwood TownFleetwood461013234972-2343
RPort Vale461011254174-3341
RCarlisle UnitedCarlisle4679304181-4030


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