📝 Match Preview: Sheffield Wednesday (H)

All you need to know!

9 December 2022

Exeter City return to home action after three weeks as they face high-flying Sheffield Wednesday at St James Park on Saturday.

The sell-out encounter will see City look to build on last week's 1-1 draw at Morecambe, when Josh Key scored his first goal in over year, while the Owls will want to be back amongst the goals following a 0-0 at Derby.

This will be the first league encounter with the Hillsborough outfit since February 2012, when David Noble scored a 84th minute winner in a 2-1 win, though we did clash in the FA Cup third round in January 2020 as the Yorkshire outfit ran out 2-0 winners.

Tickets

Tickets are now SOLD OUT for Saturday's clash with Sheffield Wednesday at St James Park.

The final tickets were snapped up on Thursday evening, meaning it's a fourth home sell out for the Grecians this season.

Thank you for your fantastic support and don't forget that the Centre Spot will be open to all after the match for the England vs France World Cup match.

If you didn't get a ticket you can watch the match on iFollow in the UK and Overseas for just £10. Please click here for a match pass.

Gary Caldwell's Thoughts

Darren Moore's high flying Owls are unbeaten in eight league fixtures and have lost just once since 3 September, but Caldwell insists his team will treat this fixture like they would against any other opponent.

"It's been good on the training pitch this year. It's been a little cold and frosty but thanks to the ground staff here we can train on grass," he said.

"We've spoken about the threats Sheffield Wednesday have but most importantly they are clear on how we can hurt them and go about winning the game, so that's our focus.

"We have shown in games such as Derby away and Peterborough at home that on our day we can hurt teams higher up in this league and no matter who we play, the preparation is the same. We respect every team but we have to believe."

Hear more from Gary 👇

Matchday Family Fun

A trip to the football is a special family treat and at St James Park there is plenty on offer pre-matched to keep the whole family entertained and to make sure your St James Park experience is extra special.

For full details of all the activities happening at SJP this Saturday, click here.

Classic Encounter

Exeter City 5 Sheffield Wednesday 1 | 18/12/10 | League One

An army of volunteers who helped clear the pitch of snow as bad weather swept the country were rewarded with a stunning SJP victory. One of the only games to take place across the whole EFL that day, Jamie Cureton's brace saw City win comprehensively.

How to Follow

Unable to make it to SJP on Saturday or unable to get a ticket? Why not get the next best thing with iFollow!

By purchasing a match pass at the cost of just £10 in the UK you'll get access to the stream which includes BBC Radio Devon commentary, score overlay and replays.

To purchase a match pass please click here.

Exeter City on social media

The Key Timings

Centre Spot Bar

The Centre Spot Bar will be open from 11am and will be showing the day's early and late kick offs ooffsn their selection of TV screens. After the match, draft pints of Tribute, Carlsberg and Thatchers are on offer for just £3 a pint.

The Centre Spot is also home to The Famous Exeter City Real Ale and Cider Emporium, offering a great selection of real ales and ciders.

Junior Grecians Zone

The Junior Grecians Zone is open to members from 12.30pm a30pmnd open to all from 1.30pm, with plenty of activities for all our young Grecian supporters.

In Red Square, the bar and Kenniford Farm's van will also be open for refreshments and hot food.

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Club Shop

The club shop is open from 12pm - 5pm on 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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Jungle Path Kiosk

From Saturday, the kiosk on the Jungle Path will be selling pints of Thatchers Big Apple, cans of Thatchers Gold and bottle of Carlsberg, as well as all the usual half time snacks including pies, pasties and beverages.

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. CONTACTLESS CARD PAYMENT NOW AVAILABLE!

Hot Food

In the Fan Zone you will find the Kenniford Farm van serving local delicious hot food such as hog roasts and chips.

Matchday Programme

Our award winning programme returns for the 22/23 season and is priced at just £3 per copy! The programme features lots of content on the men's team, including a new feature on the cover star's all-time five-a-side team!

Make sure you grab a copy from around the ground!

Match Reports

📝Match Report: City 1 Sheffield Wednesday 1

City held at SJP

10 December 2022

A 95th minute equaliser cruelly denied City a well-earned win over Sheffield Wednesday after an exceptional performance at St James Park.

Jake Caprice's second half strike looked to have won the game for Gary Caldwell's side after a 90 minute period of heart, desire and determination, but Paterson's effort from the edge of the box sealed a dramatic point for the Owls, who continue their unbeaten run

After the draw away to Morecambe, Gary made three changes to the team that fought for a hard-earned draw at The Mazuma Stadium. Coming in to the starting XI for today’s fixture was Tim Dieng, Jevani Brown and a full debut for Kegs Chauke,

With City back at SJP, it was The Owls who made the better start, Dominic Iorfa picked up the ball on the halfway line, skipped past Dieng after a couple nibbles from the Frenchmen, but he was eventually stopped by Hartridge. From the resulting free kick, up stepped Josh Windass but his effort was saved with Jamal Blackman at full stretch.

Seconds later and City had their first chance of the game. Some lovely hold up play from Jay Stansfield found Dieng on the left wing, but his crossed effort was unable to find any red heads, but a miskicked clearance from Wednesday fell to Chauke but his effort was smothered by three Wednesday defenders.

After what was some beautiful short passing play between what seemed like every outfield player, the ball eventually made its way out to Pierce Sweeney on the right-hand side, but his low driven effort failed to find a City player and Wednesday were able to clear away.

With 25 minutes played Wednesday almost opened the scoring once again, and it was Dele-Bashiru who came close, forcing a superb save from Blackman. Moments later and The Owls were on the attack again, this time it was Windass with the effort on goal, but a huge block from Hartridge cleared the ball.

After what felt like an eternity of a break due to an injury to Wednesday’s captain Barry Bannan, a chance finally came for City in the 40^th minute. The returning Dieng struck the ball from 30 yards out, but his strike cleared the bar, not troubling Stockdale in the Wednesday goal.

With half time looming, the referee went to his book for the first time in the game, the first player to get their name taken was Josh Key. The booking was a surprise to many as it was one of the softer fouls of the game.

After a relatively slow start to the second half for both sides, come the 56^th minute SJP erupted. After a cross into the box spilt out to Caprice on the left-hand side, the wing back hit an absolute belter into the back of the net with a little bit of help from the far post. A first goal in 13 months for the marauding wing back.

With the goal, City were now on top, constant pressure and quick passing were starting to really trouble the high-flying Wednesday. The press didn’t come without its troubles though, with said trouble being another yellow card for City. Joining Key in the book was Brown after what is called a “tactical foul”. Following quickly after Brown was Jay Stansfield who was pulled up for offside, only to kick the ball away in frustration.

The longer the game went on the more cards were leaving the referee’s pocket. Mark McGuiness joined very soon after Stansfield for a high kick on the young Grecian. But it was another City player who entered the book in the 76^th minute and this time it was Dieng for shirt pull on the edge of his own area.

78 minutes gone and City could have been two up. A Stockdale clearance didn’t go where it was intended and landed right at the feet of Stansfield, but his long-range effort was well saved by Stockdale who made up for his mistake.

After running himself into the ground with his constant pressing and tackling, Gary made the decision to sub off Chauke with five minutes left on the clock, replacing him was Sam Nombe.

With time running out, Wednesday levelled it right at the death with a goal from Callum Paterson, to shatter the hearts of every City fan and player in the ground.

The next game for your mighty Grecians is an away trip to the University of Bolton Stadium to face Bolton Wanderers. We hope to see you all there.

City: Blackman, Key, Sweeney, Diabate, Hartridge, Caprice, Collins, Chauke (Nombe), Dieng, Brown, Stansfield

Subs not used: Lee, Grounds, Sparkes, Beardmore, Harper, Jay

Sheffield Wednesday: Stockdale, Palmer, Vaulks (Gregory), Iorfa, Bannan ©(Bakinson, Windass (Wilks), Dele-Bashiru, Johnson, Smith (Paterson), James, McGuiness

Subs not used: Dawson, Hunt, Mighten

Referee: Neil Hair

Attendance: 7591 (1254 Away)