Exeter City FC

Pierce Sweeney hailed the victory over Stevenage as a big result and hopes they can take the performance into Tuesday night’s home game against Notts County.

The Grecians won 2-0 at Broadhall Way thanks to goals from Lee Holmes and Ollie Watkins, but the result was made all the more remarkable as City were reduced to 10 men midway through the first half.

“It is a big result,” said Pierce. “I think that’s because we went down to 10 men so early and we had to dig deep. 

“Results haven’t been going our way recently, but all the boys put a huge shift in. We said at half-time if we stay in the game for the first 10 minutes of the second half then we are going to get chances. We got our chances and we took them so it is a good three points. Hopefully this is the step forward that we need.”

City go into the match with County minus their skipper Jordan Moore-Taylor. He was the player shown a straight red card for pulling back Stevenage’s Tom Pett when he was through on goal and will be suspended for the game. 

That does create a few problems for manager Paul Tisdale, with central Troy Brown and Troy Archibald-Henville both still out injured as well.

However, City managed to pick up a clean sheet on Saturday and Pierce sees no reason why they can’t do that again.

“Keeping a clean sheet is a like a striker scoring a goal for us defenders and the keeper,” said Pierce. “It is that little bit extra for us. It is nice when you get that clean sheet so we were putting or bodies on the line at the end.

“We go again on Tuesday and we want to get our season kick-started. So we are going to go in with same attitude, same intensity and same desire into Tuesday’s game.”

Tickets are still available for the game against Notts County. They can be purchased on the gate. 

Tickets can also be purchased in advance over the phone, between 9.30am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, on 01392 411243; at the club’s reception between 9.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, or online at tickets.ecfc.co.uk.