📝 Match Preview: Blackpool (H)

All you need to know ahead of our first home league match of the season

11 August 2023

Exeter City host Blackpool on Saturday in the first home league match of the 23/24 EFL Sky Bet League One season.

The 3pm kick-off is the first competitive meeting between the two sides since 2018s match in the FA Cup first round, which saw the visitors take a 3-2 win.

Both sides come into the match on the back of winning both of their opening matches of the season, meaning it is set up to be a fantastic encounter at the Park.

Gary Caldwell's thoughts

Manager Gary Caldwell has given his thoughts ahead of the game:

"It's a really difficult challenge but one we are looking forward to."

Hear more from Gary ⬇️

Match Tickets

Tickets are now sale via your online ticketing account, or from the club shop during opening hours. You can also purchase on the day for this fixture via the ticket booth in the fan zone.

Limited tickets remain so please book early to avoid missing out!

Tickets are available via your online ticketing account or in the club shop.

Admission prices

Big Bank			Nevada Construction/Optimising IT
Ticket Type	Advance	Gate	Ticket Type	Advance	Gate
Adult	£20	£22	Adult	£27	£28
Senior	£17	£19	Senior	£24	£25
Young Adult 18-23	£17	£19	Young Adult 18-23	£24	£25
Under-18	£8	£10	Under-18	£13	£14
Wheelchair Area	£17	£19	Wheelchair Area	£24	£25
Junior Grecians		---	Junior Grecians		---

How to Follow

If you can't join us at SJP, you can follow all the action by listening LIVE on iFollow. Purchase an audio match pass for just £2.50 in the UK and you'll get access to the stream which includes BBC Radio Devon commentary. Overseas you can watch the game live for just £10! Click here to grab a pass.

We will also 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

Watch England Women

We will be open from 11am in the Centre Spot and in Hospitality to show England Women's World Cup quarter-final against Colombia! So come and show your support for the lionesses!

When is England vs Colombia in the Women's World Cup quarter-final and how can you watch the clash? | Daily Mail Online

Key Timings

Matchday Family Fun

Going to the football with your family is the perfect way to make memories you treasure, and at St James Park there is plenty on offer pre-match to keep the whole family entertained, and ensure a special day out.

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

New sticker book

The official Exeter City Sticker Album has launched and the first set of stickers are in this week's programme! Collect 184 different stickers, ranging from current and past players, club legends, magic moments and more! Buy from the club shop from Saturday. The album includes the first eight stickers!

Each matchday league programme this season will have 8 stickers to collect to fill your book!

sticker book.jpg

Centre Spot Bar

The Centre Spot Bar will be open from 11am and will be showing England Women's match against Colombia and the early Premier League game with Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

After the match, draft pints of Tribute, Carlsberg and Thatchers are on offer for just £3.75 a pint.

Post Match Pint.jpg

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 from 12:30pm to members and 1:30pm to everyone, 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.

Family Zone 9.jpg

Club Shop

The club shop is open all day on matchdays and is stocked with all three of City's kits for the 22/24 season as well as a range of training gear and pocket money items.

Don't forget, Supporters' Trust members, Junior Grecians and season ticket holders save 10% on full prices purchases!

Our brand new third kit will be revealed and on sale in the club shop at SJP from 10:30am!

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!

Kiosk Menu

Kenniford Farm will also be in the Fan Zone with their wide range of local produce including hog roast rolls and chips.

Match Day Programme

The matchday programme the Grecian has a new look for this season, with designers Curtis Sports giving it a refresh!

Saturday's issue is full size and just £3:50 including a set of eight stickers for the new sticker book!

Previous Encounter

Exeter City 2 Blackpool 3 | 10/11/18 | Emirates FA Cup

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.

Match Reports

📝 Match Report: City 0 Blackpool 0

Strong point at home for City

12 August 2023

The Grecians made it four points and two clean sheets from two League One games as they drew 0-0 at home to Blackpool.

On an otherwise quiet afternoon for 'keeper Vil Sinisalo, the Finn made two big saves in the second to deny the Tangerines, though it was City who had the best chances to win the game.

Gary Caldwell made three changes to the squad who secured City a place in the second round of the Carabao with a win over Crawley, with Jack Aitchison, Demetri Mitchell and Tom Carroll all getting their place in the starting XI.

It was a strong start to the game for City as they saw almost 100% in the opening four minutes, sussing out their passig channels against the recently relegated Blackpool. This led to the first chance of the game as Demetri Mitchell put on the burners down the left-hand side, laying the ball on a plate to Jack Aitchison, but his effort on goal was blocked and behind for a corner.

The resulting corner was taken short, but Dion Rankine’s tricky footwork was eventually cut out by a Blackpool defender and deflected back off Rankine for a goal kick.

There was controversy in SJP moments later as Tom Carroll and Ollie Norburn came to blows in front of the dugouts, with Norburn appearing to drag Carroll to the ground. After what looked like a reaction from the Blackpool player, it was Carroll who received a yellow card, leaving manager Caldwell perplexed.

With the game having hit the 25^th minute mark, City found the back of the net courtesy of Aitchison. However, the linesman adjudged him to have been offside from Nombe’s flick on and the City applause was replaced by groans and boos for the disallowed goal.

City were causing the majority of the problems in the first half with Mitchell and Rankine causing issues for their opposing full backs, all that was missing was a City goal with everything else going way of the team in red and white.

It was a fast start to the second half for both sides with Nombe having a big chance in front of the Big Bank, howeveri t was the away side who had the two biggest chances of the game in quick succession. A combination of an Aimson block followed up by a reaction save from close range from Sinisalo prevented the Tangerines from taking the lead.

City came close once again, after Mitchell was tripped on the left-hand side resulting in a yellow for a CJ Hamilton, Cole stepped up to whip in a free kick. The ball was headed away but only as far as Trevitt, however with the Brentford loanee leaning back his effort sailed over the bar.

After only just coming back from his knock picked up at Wycombe, Mitchell made way on the 65^th minute and was replaced in a like for like swap by Vincent Harper.

There wasn’t long until Caldwell made his second change with James Scott called upon to replace Cole.

The same as the first half it was Rankine causing all the problems in the second half with his step overs sending Blackpool defenders sliding all over the place. He then sent a ball into Scott who went for an audacious scorpion kick, but his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

City almost found the opener in the 78^th minute as a Blackpool corner was cleared. That allowed James Scott to mount a counter attack, with Rankine quickjly in support. He went for the Nombe option, eyeing the striker inside the area leathering the ball across the penalty area. Nombe turned on a sixpence with the goal in his sights, but astute defending blocked his path.

With the game nearing its end, Gary made a double change with another run out for Kyle Taylor as he is eased back into the game following his injury layout and academy graduate Sonny Cox, replacing Aitchison and Nombe.

With the game in the first minute of an added five, Sinisalo secured the point with a point-blank close range save from Owen Dale.

City’s next game is a midweek trip to Fratton Park as the Grecians take on Pompey live on Sky Sports on Tuesday 15^th August.

City: Sinisalo, Rankine, Sweeney, Aimson ©, Hartridge, Mitchell (Harper), Carroll, Trevitt, Cole (Scott), Aitchison (Taylor), Nombe (Cox)

Subs not used: Woods, Jules, Diabate

Subs not used: O’Donnell, Thompson, Apter, Tharme

Referee: Sam Purkiss

Attendance: 7340 (726 Away)