📝 Match Preview: Forest Green Rovers (H)

All you need to know about Saturday's match

12 January 2023

Exeter City kick off at home for the first time 2023 when they welcome Forest Green Rovers to St James Park on Saturday.

It is the third meeting between the two teams this season, following the first league clash and subsequent Papa John's Trophy group fixture, with each side winning once. Both outfits are well rested having not been in action since New Year's Day, though Forest Green Rovers should have faced Birmingham in the FA Cup last weekend - that clash was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at the New Lawn.

Rovers opened 2023 with a 3-1 home defeat to Port Vale, while City recorded a superb 1-0 victory away at Oxford United thanks to Sam Nombe's late goal.

Tickets

With City's last three home matches being a sell out it's worth booking early to get the best seats and secure your spot on the Big Bank.

By buying tickets in advance you can save money and avoid the queues on match day.

Gary Caldwell's Thoughts

The Gloucestershire side travel down the M5 bottom of the table, but Caldwell expects them to make it difficult for his side despite their league position.

"We found how difficult it was at Morecambe, we couldn't break them down second half and we have to be at our very best if we want to win these games," he said.

"This league has shown that between the teams at the bottom and those at the top that there's not much difference and we have to be focused on ourselves and play with the same intensity we did over the Christmas period.

"We know it will be a very diffucult one. They've spent money and done it early trying to change their squad, but that brings challenges in itself. We are not sure what they will play, or who will play, but again, we focus on ourselves."

Hear more from Gary 👇

Match Day 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.

Previous Encounter

Forest Green Rovers 0 Exeter City 4 | 24/09/22 | Sky Bet League One

City put on a show in front of the Sky Sports cameras as Jevani Brown fired in a hat trick, with Sam Nombe adding to the four goal haul.

How To Follow

Can't make it to St James Park on Saturday? Why not get the next best thing with a LIVE stream on iFollow?

By purchasing a match pass at the cost of just £10 overseas and £2.50 in the UK you'll get access to the stream which includes BBC Radio Devon commentary, score overlay and replays.

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To purchase a match pass please click here.

For further details on iFollow, please click here
For a first time guide to iFollow, please click here

We will be proving live coverage on our Twitter and Facebook pages and will have reaction from Gary Caldwell and a player after the match.

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 on their selection of TV screens. After the match, draft pints of Tribute, Carlsberg and Thatchers are on offer for just £3.50 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 and open to all from 1.30pm with plenty of activities for all our young Grecian supporters.

In the Fan Zone, 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 to 5pm on matchdays and is stocked with all three of City's kits for the 22/23 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

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.

Match Day Programme

Our award winning programme is available 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 Forest Green Rovers 1

City draw first home game of 2023

14 January 2023

Exeter City opened 2023 at home with a 1-1 draw with Forest Green that didn't come to life until the final 15 minutes.

Jevani Brown rescued a point late on with a stunning finish to cancel out Jordan Garrick's second half opener, after a dismal first half display from both sides.

After 13 days without a game and two players departing City, Gary made two changes from the New Year’s Day victory over Oxford. Jay Stansfield and Jack Sparkes returned to the starting line-up and new signing Joe White made the bench.

Following a quiet opening nine minutes for both sides, it was City who had the first chance of the game, a well worked piece of play from Sam Nombe found Josh Key in behind the Rovers back line, but he was unable to get a proper hold on the ball and Russ Doohan gathered it up.

Having played just under 20 minutes, City were still very much the team in charge, this time it was Sparkes turning provider for Key, but the wing back turned attacking midfielder just miss timed his jump with the ball sailing away for a throw in.

City were at it once again ten minutes later and it was Sparkes and Key combining together once more, but all that was missing was the end product with Keys effort into the box cleared for a corner.

With the first half coming near to the end, City had another effort on goal, this time it was Sparkes, who picked up the ball 25 yards out from goal and sent a curling strike towards goal, but it went just wide of the posts.

Not long after the restart, Forest Green had their first real effort on goal with Robson sending the ball towards the City goal but left Blackman untroubled.

After a shaky start to the second half, The Grecians found themselves a goal down after 55 minutes with new signing Garrick found unmarked at the back post to tap the ball home following Jamie Robson's delivery.

With 60 minutes played, Gary had clearly seen enough and made a double change, introducing Jevani Brown and new signing Joe White to the frey.

The subs had made a difference with Brown making an impact instantly, a cross field pass from Caprice found Brown on the left-hand side, he then sent a cross to back post and there was Stansfield, but pressure from the Rovers defence forced his header over the bar.

With 74 minutes played, City equalised after an outstanding finish from the magic man Brown. A whole comedy of errors led to the goal with multiple shouts from City players for fouls on White outside of the box and then what looked like a definite penalty to City after a Rovers defender seemed to gather the ball up in the area. However, in all that kerfuffle Brown produced some magic to make it level.

City should have taken the lead just minutes later when Harry Kite's low effort struck the post, sparking chaos in the Forest Green area. From the rebound, Josh Key hit the bar from close range before the ball pinged around the box. The scramble came to an end as Rovers hooked the ball away, but the Grecian remained determined.

It was an impressive half-an-hour cameo from debutant White, who displayed some fine skill and vision on his first appearance, setting up Hartridge for an effort that poked wide.

Despite the chances, Ciyt had to settle for a point.

The next game is a trip to the south coast to take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park on January 21.

Subs not used: Lee, Stubbs, Harper, Chauke, Grounds

Forest Green: Doohan, McGeouch (Hendry), Casey, Stevenson ©, Garrick (Bakayoko), Robson, McAllister (Bernard), Godwin-Malife (O’Keefe), Cooper (Cargill), Peart-Harris, March

Subs not used: Thomas, Stevens

Referee: David Rock

Attendance: 7008 (316 Away)

Ticket News

🎟️ Home tickets SOLD OUT for Forest Green Rovers match

Back the boys at SJP!

13 January 2023

Tickets in all three home stands are now SOLD OUT for tomorrow's clash with Forest Green Rovers Football Club!

We have pursued all options to convert part of the away terrace for this fixture, but it hasn’t been possible on this occasion.

We look forward to welcoming you back SJP tomorrow ❤️