📝 Match Preview: Reading (H)

All you need to know about Saturday's match

25 August 2023

Exeter City return to action at a SOLD OUT St James Park on Saturday as they face Reading in a 3pm kick-off in EFL League One.

The Grecians will be looking to build on a strong start to the season and Saturday's 2-0 win away at Carlisle United as they take on Reading for the first time since 1993.

City are looking strong defensively, having only conceded once in four league matches and face a Reading side that come into the match on the back of a pair of wins over Stevenage and Cheltenham.

It's another sell out at the Park!

Gary Caldwell's thoughts

Manager Gary Caldwell has given his thoughts as City prepare to take on Reading at St James Park on Saturday, as well as paying tribute to Eamonn Dolan.

Tribute to Eamonn Dolan

Saturday's match at home to Reading gives supporters of both the Grecians and the Royals the perfect opportunity to celebrate the life of a man who means so much to the two clubs.

Supporters are encouraged to take part in a minutes applause in the 48th minute of the match to commemorate the life of a true Exeter City legend and a gentleman, and someone who influenced many a career of players from Reading's academy.

The match day programme is also a tribute to Dolan, with his story told through the words of those at the club who knew him best.

Eamonn, City boss between 2003 and 2004, took over at St James Park as new era dawned in EX4, as the Supporters Trust gained control of the club after relegation from the Football League.

Eamonn Dolan: 1967-2016 ❤️

Match Tickets

Tickets for City's clash with Reading at SJP on Saturday are now SOLD OUT!

Thank you for your fantastic support, both of our home, EFL Sky Bet League One matches so far this season are both sell outs!

Tickets are on sale for Tuesday night's Carabao Cup second round clash with Stevenage, click here to find out more!

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

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 the early and late kick-offs.

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 4 Reading 6 | October 9, 1993 | Division 2

The last visit of Reading to SJP was certainly something...

From 4-1 down to 4-4 to end 6-4 to the visitors back in 93!

⏮️ The last visit of @ReadingFC to SJP was certainly something...

From 4️⃣-1️⃣ down to 4️⃣-4️⃣ to end 6️⃣-4️⃣ to the visitors back in 9️⃣3️⃣... 😅 #ECFC #SemperFidelis pic.twitter.com/K2iYTkHUh6
— Exeter City FC (@OfficialECFC) August 22, 2023

Match Reports

📝Match Report: City 2 Reading 1

City secure all three points at home

26 August 2023

Reece Cole stunning 93rd minute winner secured a third league win of the season as the Grecians beat Reading 2-1 at St James Park.

Will Aimson's first half header - his second goal of the season - was cancelled out before the break by Harvey Knibbs, before Cole's wonderstrike saw off the Royals.

Gary Caldwell made two changes to the side that travelled to Carlisle with Finnish wing back Ilmari Niskanen - making his debut after successful international clearance - and Tom Carroll coming into the starting line-up, in place of Cole and Sam Nombe.

It was a bright start to the game for City, with new signing Niskanen seeing a lot of the ball down the right-hand side, in doing so, connecting well with both Dion Rankine and Jack Aitchison in and around the Reading penalty area.

With the game fully flowing, the away side were starting to make themselves known with Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan starting to cause trouble for the City centre halves. However, it was Charlie Savage who had the best attempt of the game, stinging the palms of Sinisalo from range.

City fired straight back with a few chances of their own, a free kick from Carroll found the head of Aimson, who then found Zak Jules, but the towering wing-backs header went narrowly wide of the far post. Next up to the firing range was Demetri Mitchell but his outside of the boot strike was not powerful enough to cause David Button too many issues, as the veteran keeper was able to gather and clear away.

City were playing some wonderful football as the first half drew on, with almost everything coming by way of Niskanen. After running half the pitch, he played the ball across the area to Aitchison, who on the spin was able to find the post, but the bounce was kind to Button who was able to gather, clutching the ball off the toes of Mitchell.

The resulting corner, led to another huge chance for City as it was quickly taken and found Ryan Trevitt, who after scoring his first career goal last week was looking to double tally, after opening up his body, he sent a curling effort to the far post, but Button was able to again make a fantastic save and tipped the ball behind the post.

All the pressure eventually came to fruition as the Grecians found the back of the net in the 34^th minute, with City captain Aimson doubling his tally for the season with a his deft header, after a peach of a cross from Carroll found the centre halves head.

Deep into first half added time and against the run of play, the Royals found the equaliser. City were unable to clear the ball from the edge of their own area and Harvey Knibbs was able to capitalise on a Pierce Sweeney slip, slotting the ball past Sinisalo in the City net.

There was a double change at the break for the away side as Amadou Mbengue and Caylon Vickers were replaced by Andy Yiadom and Ben Elliott.

City made their first change of the game just after the 60^th minute mark as Zak Jules who was on a yellow was replaced by Cole.

It was another City change in the 70^th minute with new signing Niskanen replaced by Nombe resulting in a switch around in positions, with Mitchell going to left wing back and Cole to the right-hand side.

Nombe made an instant impact, almost finding the back of the net a few minutes after entering the field of play. With the ball at the edge of his area, Button became too relaxed and Nombe pounced on the keeper falling asleep, but his effort flashed across the face of goal with no-one in the six yard box to tap home.

With City needing a goal, Gary made a double change with Vincent Harper and Kyle Taylor coming on to the field to replace Mitchell and Aitchison.

There were shouts all around the Big Bank as City approached the 90^th minute, Cole found plenty of space behind the Reading back line but his pass which flashed across the face of goal could not find anyone in red and white.

Moments later and the screams and shouts came from all around SJP as Cole had the ball on the edge of the area and let loose with an absolute cannon of a strike to give City the lead and take them to second in the Sky Bet League One table.

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

Subs not used: Woods, Diabate, Borges

Reading: Button, Dean, Knibbs (Mukairu (Tuma)), Savage, Azeez, Ehibhationham, Hutchinson, Mbengue (Yiadom), Abbey ©, Vickers (Elliott), Carson (McIntyre)

Subs not used: Boyce-Clarke, Craig

Referee: Will Finnie

Attendance: 7,956 (1,291 away)