Exeter City were well beaten by the visiting Cardiff City at St James Park, leaving the Grecians now winless in 11.
Exeter City hosted Cardiff City at St James Park four days on from defeat to Lincoln City, leaving the Grecians winless in ten. The Bluebirds made the journey to the South-West after being held to a 1-1 draw last time out against Barnsley, meaning that both sides would be looking for a return to winning ways.
Matt Taylor named three changes to his side that were defeated midweek against the Imps, with Reece Cole and Danny Andrew both deemed fit enough to play from minute one in place Jack Aitchison and Charlie Cummins respectively. Akeel Higgins was also given the nod ahead of Liam Oakes, as the Grecians continued to manage bodies amongst a squad rife with injury.
First Half
Ollie Tanner found himself in plenty of space down the right wing early in the opening minutes, allowing the visitors to work the ball into the Exeter City area. A ball was flashed across the front of Joe Whitworth’s goal, but fortunately Jack McMillan reacted quickly to clear the ball up the pitch.
Further pressure was mounted minutes later when the Bluebirds looked to capitalise on the Grecians through a set piece. A well-placed corner ball was headed onto the crossbar before a follow-up shot was thwarted by a herd of red and white guarding the goal-line, a crucial block keeping the ball out and the game level.
Cian Ashford was next to get a shooting opportunity for the visitors as he picked up another pass from Tanner arriving from the right, however the Cardiff player will be cross with his effort as he scuffed the ball directly into the Big Bank. While the game remained level, increased pressure was gradually building from the Bluebirds.
The defiant Grecian defence was again tested when Omari Kellyman launched a curling effort towards goal from the edge of the box, thankfully for Whitworth however it peeled wide of the post and went out of play.
The pressure eventually told in the 31st minute when Rubin Colwill worked his way into the Exeter penalty area before turning and shooting from a tight angle, with the Bluebirds’ skipper finding the top left of the goal to open scoring.
Colwill wouldn’t have to wait long before he contributed again, meeting a header inside the area to head home from close range and double the visitors’ lead within minutes of the opener.
Despite a positive opening five minutes, the quality on show from the Bluebirds stole the headlines for the opening half, leaving Matt Taylor’s side with work to do.
Second Half
An early free kick for the Grecians on the halfway line looked to have thrown a lifeline to the hosts, however Danny Andrew’s set piece fell unkindly for Sweeney at the back post with the Irishman slicing his effort into the Big Bank.
The introductions of Timur Tutierov, Jack Aitchison and Charlie Cummins did little to quell the threats posed by the visitors however, when Alex Robertson's stunning strike from the edge of the box curled around Whitworth to find the top corner and make it a third for the Bluebirds.
With a quarter of an hour left and the visitors continuing to hound the Grecian penalty area, Luca Woodhouse wisely jumped up to head clear a ball arriving at the far post sent in by Chris Willock. While Exeter stood firm to defend the corner, former Grecian Joel Colwill got a chance from close range soon after, the palms of Whitworth preventing his header from making it a fourth.
With less than ten minutes left on the clock, Tutierov sent a welcoming ball across goal that found Sonny Cox arriving at speed. The academy product was able to get a powerful shot off from close range, however Nathan Trott between the Cardiff sticks will have been thanking his lucky stars to see the shot deflected away off the crossbar.
With just minutes left on the clock it became apparent that the visitors were not done yet. Substitute Callum Robinson was in the right place at the right time slot home from close range and make it a fourth, after the ball bobbled between the Exeter back line.
Sonny Cox and Carlos Mendes Gomes combined in stoppage time in the hunt for a consolation goal, however the Bolton Wanderers loanee was unable to get enough on his shot making it simple for Trott to catch.
After eight minutes of stoppage time, the referee called an end to an afternoon that saw the Grecians outclassed in nearly every area of the pitch, with focus now turning to Tuesday night.
Up Next
The Grecians are on the road on Tuesday 17th March when they travel to Kenilworth Road to face Luton Town in more Sky Bet League One action!
Tickets are still available for this game, with more information available here.
Match Details
Exeter City XI
Whitworth (GK), McMillan, Brierley, Wareham (Cox 81'), Cole (Aitchison 60'), Niskanen, Higgins (Mendes Gomes 70'), Woodhouse, Andrew (Cummins 60'), Sweeney ©, Magennis (Tutierov 60')
Exeter City Unused Subs
Bycroft (GK), McDonald
Cardiff City XI
Trott (GK), Bagan, Osho, Wintle, Kellyman (Robinson 75'), Colwill © (Colwill 75'), Tanner (Willock 70'), Robertson (Turnbull 70'), Ng, Ashford, Lawlor
Cardiff City Unused Subs
Fish (GK), Chambers, Scanlon
Cardiff City Goalscorers
Colwill (31’, 34’), Robertson (67'), Robinson (86')