📝 Match Preview: 🆚 Portsmouth (H)

All you need to know as City are in Papa John's Trophy action at the Park

7 January 2022

Exeter City's attentions turn to the Papa John's Trophy and Friday night football as the Grecians take on Portsmouth in round two on Friday, January 7, 7:30pm.

City will be looking to build on Tuesday night's draw with league leaders Forest Green Rovers and book a trip to face Cambridge United in round three on the following Tuesday.

The Grecians face a Portsmouth side for the first time since they met in the semi-finals of the competition in 2020. A dramatic encounter saw City take the lead in extra-time before Cameron McGeehan and John Marquis scored in injury-time to give Portsmouth what, looked a time, an unlikely victory.

Matt Taylor's thoughts

Speaking ahead of the rescheduled round two tie the manager said:

"We've got senior players coming back so genreally this squad will be strong, depending on where every one is preparation and game time wise.

"The bench was strong on Tuesday and I'm expecting it to be strong again on Friday."

With rotation usual in the EFL Trophy, Taylor is looking at another opportunity for his fringe players:

"There's no better opportunity than the next game. It's a competitive game against the best opposition, on our home pitch which we haven't played on for a while. We've looked at playing on Friday nights from afar.

"We'll see how our fans take to it, we'll see how how the fans take to it but at the end of the day it's a real cup tie so it's a fantastic opportunity for the players on that pitch."

Watch all of Taylor's interview below👇

Ben Seymour's thoughts

Ben Seymour says "it's good to be back" and is raring to go as he previews a Papa John's Trophy clash with Portsmouth.

Talking ahead of the game the 22 year-old striker was looking forward to the challenge.

"Friday offers the first good minutes of the season for me, playing in front of the manager. I'm really looking forward to it. I think it's going to be a good game. We want to put in a good performance and hopefully give our crowd a good win."

Check out all Ben had to say below👇

Match Tickets

E-tickets are the easiest and quickest way to buy tickets for City matches. On ordering you can select to receive an e-ticket which will be emailed to your phone for you to show on the turnstile - no need to print!

To purchase tickets online, please click here. Please note that you will need to log in to purchase.

You can also call the club during the normal office hours on 01392 411243 or visit the club shop and reception in person between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday. We ask that you please buy online where possible.

Tickets are on general sale with both the IP Office Main Stand and Thatchers Big Bank open on the night.

Match tickets for the fixture that have already been purchased will be valid for the new date.

Ticket prices

Thatchers Big Bank

Adults: £8
Seniors: £5
18-23s: £5
Under-18s: £3

IP Office Main Stand

Adults: £10
Seniors: £7
18-23s: £5
Under-18s: £5

How To Follow

As the match is on a Friday it can be streamed in the UK and Overseas. Click here to purchase.

You can keep up to date with all the action by following us on social media. After the match we will bring you reaction from manager Matt Taylor and a player.

Exeter City on social media

Matchday Guide

Many things may have changed since your last visit to SJP, or this could be your first ever visit to us, so please take time to familiarise yourself with our new match day guide, which highlights everything you need to know for your return to the ground.

Important COVID Guidance

Whilst we are back to normal at SJP, please be aware that some spectators may not be as comfortable as others about attending matches. Please take time to familar yourself with the club's, and government's, Covid guidelines to ensure we keep each safe at St James Park.

Centre Spot Bar

The Centre Spot Bar will be open from 5pm. After the match, draft pints of Tribute, Carlsberg and Thatchers are on offer for just £3 per pint.

On special we have pints of Tribute in the Centre Spot Bar and Exeter Avocet in the Red Square bar for just £2.50 until stocks last.

Junior Grecians Zone

The Junior Grecians Zone is closed for this match. We appologise for any inconvience!

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Club Shop

The club shop is open until kick-off matchdays and is stocked with all three of City's kits for the 21/22 season as well as a range of training gear and pocket money items.

Don't forget, Supporters' Trust members save 10% on full prices purchases!

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Food and Drink

One of the most important part of any match day! We have a wide range of hot and cold drinks and snacks available at the kiosk for away fans.

Hot Food

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Portsmouth's last match

Cambridge United 0 Portsmouth 0 | Jan 3, 2022 | EFL Sky Bet League One

Pompey began 2022 by picking up a point in a goalless draw with Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium.

Previous Encounter

Portsmouth 3 Exeter City 2 | February 18, 2020 | Leasing.com Trophy semi-final

Exeter City's chances of going to Wembley Stadium in the Leasing.com Trophy final were cruelly ended by two injury-time goals from Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

The Grecians who had led twice late on through goals from Jake Taylor and a deflected cross from Joel Randall, were undone when Cameron McGeehan and John Marquis scored in injury-time to give Portsmouth what, looked a time, an unlikely victory.

Match Reports

📝 Match Report: City 2 Portsmouth 3

City suffer late heartbreak

7 January 2022

Exeter City suffered a case of déjà vu as Portsmouth came from behind to win 3-2 in the Papa John’s Trophy second round at St James Park.

Goals from Matt Jay and Archie Collins had given the Grecians the lead but two late goals from Ronan Curtis won the tie for Pompey.

Manager Matt Taylor made five changes from Tuesday night’s draw with Forest Green Rovers in EFL Sky Bet League Two as Pierce Sweeney, Sam Stubbs, Kyle Taylor, Owura Edwards and Ben Seymour came into the side.

It was a quick return to action for Irishman Pierce Sweeney who picked up a knee injury against Tranmere Rovers back in December.

Friday night under the lights would prove a perfect setting as a decent crowd of over 2000 enjoyed Cup football at St James Park.

The match started at a frantic pace as a long diagonal found Josh Key who tried to cut inside his marker and would go to ground but nothing was given.

The first goal of the game came in the fourth minute as a cross came in from deep from Marcus Harness which found George Hirst alone at the back post and he headed down and into the far corner to give Pompey the lead.

City wouldn’t let their heads drop and found an instant response just one minute later as captain Matt Jay picked up the ball in the centre, drove forward and fired home from the edge of the box to level the scores after just six minutes.

After a breathless first fifteen minutes the game would finally settle down as Pompey looked to dominate the possession.

Portsmouth could have taken the lead after 25 minutes as a shot from the edge of the box clipped Sam Stubbs and flew across the penalty area where Hirst took an air shot with the goal at his mercy.

Hirst would again prove to be a menace for the City backline and he came close to a second as he turned his man expertly and fired towards goal but the ball took a nick off a City defender taking it just wide.

City’s best chance of the half saw Ben Seymour pick up a loose ball in the centre of the Park and drove forward towards the area but his drive was well blocked and the sides went in level at the break.

Pierce Sweeney came through his scheduled 45 minutes after recovering from injury and was replaced by Harry Kite at half time, who would play in the unfamiliar position in the centre of defence.

The second half again started in frantic fashion as City looked to work a chance through the wings. The first chance would come after a lovely ball down the line from Caprice who found Edwards in space, his cross was perfect for Matt Jay but he could only fire straight at Bass in the Pompey goal.

City really should have taken the lead on 52 minutes as Kyle Taylor slid in MJ on the wing he played in Josh Key who drove the ball across the face of the box and Owura-Edwards was just unable to get a touch!

The Grecians remained on top and would almost go ahead from a corner as Archie Collins fizzed a cross into the box which just evaded Stubbs at the back post.

City took the lead that their second half play deserved in the 76th minute as Josh Key picked the ball up and drove towards the edge of the box before passing to Archie Collins who shifted the ball onto his left foot and hit a shot which took a deflection and nestled into the bottom corner!

Into the closing stages Pompey created a great chance to level as a ball was crossed in from deep and Hackett-Fairchild found himself unmarked from six-yards out, his header was straight at Dawson.

Portsmouth would find a late leveller as a free-kick was swung in from the edge of the box which was met by the head of Curtis and it flew into the bottom corner.

Two minutes later and Pompey would win the tie as Ronan Curtis found space in the area to fire home and just like in 2020 Pompey came from behind to win late on.

The Grecians are quickly next in action next Saturday againt Scunthorpe United in a 3pm kick-off in EFL Sky Bet League Two.

City XI: Dawson; Key, Sweeney (Kite, 45), Stubbs, Diabate, Caprice; Collins, Taylor (Dieng, 55); Jay (Coley, 78), Owura-Edwards (Amond, 71), Seymour (J. Brown, 55)

Subs not used: S. Brown, Ray

Booked:

Portsmouth XI: Bass; Freeman, Raggett, Ogilvie, Romeo, Azeez (Thompson, 62), Morell, Brown (C), Harness (Jacobs, 62), Hirst (Hackett-Fairchild 62), Marquis (Curtis, 62)

Subs not used: Steward; Downing, Jewitt-White

Booked: Morell, Raggett

Attendance: 2146 (inc 507 away).