📝 Big Match Preview: Blackpool

All you need to know ahead of Saturday's Emirates Fa Cup match against Blackpool

9 November 2018

Exeter City kick-off their Emirates FA Cup adventures this Saturday against League One side Blackpool in a 3pm kick-off at St James Park

Ahead of the clash, City-manager Matt Taylor was keen that the team get the last two defeats out of the system and put on a good show for the St James Park crowd.

He said: “We are looking forward to this weekend’s game. We want to get the last two games out of our system as best we possibly can and put on a performance on our home ground – against a good League One team – in the FA Cup, which everyone is excited about.”

Asked what he could learn from the last two defeats, Matt added: “Well, we have got to be better than what we showed. We have got to give ourselves a chance to get a foothold and a bit of control in the game.

“The goals we feel, certainly at Tranmere last weekend, didn’t give us an opportunity to do that. They were poor goals from our point of view and we have got to withstand pressure at certain times and then affect the game in a positive manner.

Armistice Ceremony

City's FA Cup clash with Blackpool on Saturday, November 10 falls the day before the milestone Centenary Armistice Day. Our highly regarded pre-match ceremony will take place at St James Park prior to kick-off.

Wreathes will be laid on the pitch by both football clubs, the match officials and an Exeter City supporter. An invitation has also been extended to Blackpool to nominate one of their travelling fans to lay a wreath on their behalf.

Working with the Royal British Legion (RBL) City will use a special Armistice 100 commemorative coin for the coin toss.

Memorial Garden

As part of Exeter City's contribution to activities marking the end of The First World War, the Memorial Garden will be open from 1pm to 1:45pm.

You are welcome to visit, remember relatives who died in conflict, and place poppies or poppy crosses in the garden as an act of Remembrance.

Although a limited number of Royal British Legion crosses will be available in The Memorial Garden on the day, should have one already you are advised to bring it with you.

Standard RBL Poppies will be available as usual at various outlets around St James Park.

Ticket News

Tickets are on-sale reduced prices for the match, there are no advanced discounts. There are seats still available in both the Stagecoach Adam Stansfield Stand and the IP Office Main Stand so why not try it out whilst prices are cheaper?

There is plenty of spaces available in the Thatchers Big Bank, so come get behind the boys in red and white and help push City through to the second round!

To purchase tickets online click here. You can also call the club during the normal office hours on 01392 411243 or visit the club shop and reception in person between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

Ticket Collections

Supporters are encouraged to collect tickets before Saturday, or if they can’t then as early as possible on Saturday to avoid queues.

Key Matchday Info

When We Last Met

Blackpool 2-1 Exeter City – League Two play-off final (28/05/17)

The two sides’ previous meeting serves as a sore subject for the Grecians, as an ill-fated trip to Wembley saw them narrowly miss out on promotion thanks to a Mark Cullen winner.

Brad Potts opening the scoring with just three minutes on the clock, but David Wheeler restored parity just before the break with an impressive lob. Cullen was the difference-maker and Exeter City’s worst enemy though after prodding home late on though.

Match Sponsors

The match sponsor for Saturday is Heavitree Brewery, who are an independent, family owned tenant and leased pub company based in Exeter, Devon.

The match ball sponsor is Greendale Farm Shop, who are recent winners of the 'Best South West Butchers' by the Taste of the West.

Ashfords are sponsors of the latest edition of the match day programme, The Grecian. We are looking forward to welcoming our sponsors to the match and wish them a very pleasant day with us.

Matchday Programme

In the latest edition of The Grecian, you can read an in-depth feature interview with City striker Jayden Stockley. Inside, he discusses the Emirates FA Cup, life at City, ground redevelopments and what it’s like working under Matt Taylor.

The programme features a special cover dedicated to the 100 year armistice remembrance. Make sure you pick up a copy for just £3 from around the ground!

Bucket Collection

The bucket collection on Saturday is for the Adam Stansfield Foundation so please give generously to such a worthy cause.

Royal British Legion collection boxes are available in the club shop and centre spot for those who wish to make donations to RBL.

Red Square Activities

There will be lots going on in Red Square ahead of the match with Blackpool. There will be ambassadors handing out player stickers, the tombola stand will be in action and local food and drink is available from the catering stand.

Junior Grecians Family Zone

The Junior Grecians family zone will be open to its members from 12.30pm on Saturday and at 1.30pm for everyone else, including away supporters.

The zone has video consoles, large TV screens, a refreshments stall and table football. It is located near the players' entrance at the IP Office Stand.

Mascots

You can read their profiles in the match day programme. If you would like to be a matchday mascot this season, then contact our operations manager Andy Gillard via email at andy.gillard@ecfc.co.uk.

Club Shop

The club shop will be open from 11am to give you the opportunity to make some purchases ahead of the match and will close at 5.30pm.

Match Reports

📝 City 2 Blackpool 3

Grecians exit Emirates FA Cup despite sprited second half display

10 November 2018

Exeter City fell to a 3-2 defeat in the first round of the Emirates FA Cup against Blackpool.

Three first-half goals for the Tangerines gave the visitors what proved to be an unassailable lead at St James Park, despite a phenomenal effort from the Grecians in the second-half that left them a goal short of what would have been an incredible second-half comeback.

Matt Taylor made changes to last week’s starting XI in response to the sheer number of injuries the Grecians are struggling with at the moment, and fielded a very youthful bench to complement a side bereft of some key players.

City fell behind almost immediately after the start of play, as a switch of possession found John O’Sullivan on Blackpool’s right-hand side, with his cross nodded in at the back post by Joe Dodoo in what was a nightmare start for City.

They responded well, with two incisive forward passes to Jonathan Forte looking promising but for the linesman’s flag, before a deep cross by Pierce Sweeney was headed by Jayden Stockley into the path of Jordan Tillson, but his effort was mishit and flew wide.

City would go on to dominate the opening stages despite falling behind so early on; Jake Taylor’s cross after 10 minutes from the right-wing only narrowly evaded the efforts of both Stockley and Jonathan Forte.

It was the visitors who were creating the clearer chances, though, and a superb block from Luke Croll was all that prevented Dodoo from a clear shot on goal from the edge of the box.

City were denied an equaliser in the 15^th minute as Tillson fed Forte a delicate through-ball, and the striker turned his man well, but Blackpool’s Mafoumbi made a great save to not just to deny the initial shot but to smother the loose ball quickly too.

City were punished for not taking their chances as Mark Cullen headed in from a corner with less than 20 minutes on the clock to double the deficit that City faced.

It got even worse for the Grecians with 24 minutes on the clock as Tillson was dispossessed, and a rapid transition from the visitors saw Dodoo’s shot turned in by Harry Pritchard, sliding in at the back post to give the Grecians a mountain to climb to get back into the game.

The Grecians had an opportunity to get back into it on the brink of half-time as Nicky Law’s corner was met by Luke Croll, but the defender’s header was deflected wide, and Blackpool were able to eventually clear and went into the interval with a comfortable lead.

The visitors started the second-half brightly, and won several corners in succession after an attack that started after O’Shea went down holding his head – the play wasn’t stopped, and Blackpool went on to threaten on several occasions, not least when James Hamon was forced to produce a spectacular save from Callum Guy’s volley.

City had periods of attacking dominance, and Nicky Law’s free-kick in the 61^st minute was palmed away by Mafoumbi after a period of incisive attacking play.

Woodman then crossed for Stockley a few minutes later, but the striker was only able to direct his glancing header over the bar.

City were gifted a lifeline with just over 20 minutes left as a driving run from Archie Collins was ended with a cynical foul inside the Blackpool penalty area. Sweeney took it, and though his initial effort was saved, Tillson smacked in the rebound to get City on the scoresheet.

City calls for another penalty with just under 10 minutes to play were waved away as Jake Taylor went down in the box, before a promising move spearheaded by substitute Tristan Abrahams was brought back for a foul in the build-up.

City pressed for another and were nearly rewarded as the ball fell to Stockley just outside the area, but his effort proved little trouble for Mafoumbi, who was able to smother the ball.

The pressure told – a defensive misjudgement among the Blackpool defence saw the ball fall to Tristan Abrahams about 25 yards from goal, and his effort took a mean deflection and looped over Mafoumbi’s dive to reduce the deficit to just one goal.

A superb last-ditch tackle was all that stopped Taylor from one last sight of goal, and in the end the Grecians’ second-half effort was too little, too late, as the defeat saw the Grecians eliminated in the first round of the FA Cup.

Exeter City: Hamon; Sweeney (Oates 73), O’Shea, Croll, Woodman; Taylor, Collins, Tillson, Law; Forte (Abrahams 52), Stockley.

Subs not used: Weale, A Martin, Jay, Dean

Booked: Tillson

Blackpool: Mafoumbi, McLaughlin (Delfouneso 88), Heneghan, Tilt, Turton, Guy, Thompson, O’Sullivan (Nottingham 74), Pritchard, Dodoo, Cullen (Feeney 66).

Substitutes: Boney, Avon, Taylor, Davies

Booked: Dodoo

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By purchasing a season ticket in the super saver period, you will not only make huge and the best savings on admission for the campaign, but enable the club to operate fully whilst we have a period of no matches and minimal income. Find out more by clicking here.

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