Three goals in quick succession stunned the Grecians, as Rotherham United climbed out of the relegation zone after a 4-0 win over Exeter City.
Gary Caldwell named three changes to his side that struck late to claim a point at the Select Car Leasing Stadium on Tuesday night; Carlos Mendes Gomes, Reece Cole and Jake Doyle-Hayes making a return as the Grecians looked to make it six wins in a row on home soil as Rotherham United made the trip to the South-West.
City would have to ensure that the Millers' wouldn't carry any momentum from their Tuesday night win against Northampton Town, the Yorkshire team's first win in two months as they began the day in the relegation zone. Three former Grecians were amongst the ranks in Matt Hamshaw's side; 2021/22 promotion winners Cameron Dawson and Sam Nombe, alongside Zak Jules in more recent years.
First Half
With the visitors opting to switch halves before a ball had been kicked, City started the first half charging towards the Big Bank. Ilmari Niskanen will have felt he should have done better, a signature run down the right wing from the Fin was followed by a ball into the box all too easy for former Grecian Cameron Dawson to claim.
With the Grecians looking to continue their brisk start, Carlos Mendes Gomes was fouled on the edge of the box, awarding the hosts a free kick in a dangerous area. Gary Caldwell’s men had been preparing for this exact instance it seemed, as Ethan Brierley’s set piece was cleverly played to Jake Doyle-Hayes on the edge of the box, the Irishman shooting low but saved by Dawson.
With 20 minutes on the clock, Niskanen’s error on the ball allowed former City top goalscorer Samuel Nombe to charge on the home goal, thankfully the former Grecian squandering his chance and allowing the hosts to regain composure.
City would look for a sharp response, with Mendes Gomes smartly heading a ball forward to Jayden Wareham, the number nine’s shot from the edge of the box wide of Dawson’s goal, however.
A free kick for the visitors inside the City half minutes later proved to be costly, as Jamal Baptiste met the ball inside the area to fire home the opening goal in the encounter and give the Millers the lead; the first goal that the Grecians had conceded at home after five consecutive clean sheets on home turf.
Rotherham midfielder Daniel Gore’s game would be cut short as the clock approach 40 minutes, the Manchester United loanee deemed unable to play on after a clash and substituted for Emmanuel Adegboyega.
Five minutes were added on after the opening 45 had passed and with seconds left, Reece Cole would seemingly be fouled inside the Millers’ box, the referee Paul Howard wholeheartedly disagreeing, much to the dismay of the onlooking Big Bank.
Adegboyega’s strike from a set piece then would be all of the goal action for the first half, Caldwell’s men left with work to do in the second 45 minutes.
Second Half
With Nombe again looking to contribute from the edge of the area, the Grecians relied on Joe Whitworth’s full-stretch to prevent the former City man finding the back of the net minutes into the second half.
As the Grecians attacked the goal in front of the Tracks Suzuki St James Road stand, Mendes Gomes had to first fight with the low Devon sun before dribbling his way into the Millers’ box. Urged to shoot, the Bolton Wanderers’ loanee continued his run before the visitors were effectively able to win possession and clear the ball from danger.
With 25 minutes left on the clock, Nombe once again looked to haunt the onlooking Big Bank, loading up a shot on the edge of the box following a free kick and forcing a goal-line clearance from the Grecians.
Rotherham United captain Joe Rafferty picked up a pass from Nombe inside the City area, the midfielder shooting at Whitworths’ near post and firing the ball into the roof of the net. Seconds later Harry Gray pounced on the shell-shocked Grecian defence to add a third for the visitors. With 20 minutes left, Gary Caldwell’s men now had a mountain to climb.
In a last-ditch effort, City skipper Pierce Sweeney made way for Sonny Cox, with Jayden Wareham leaving the field in place of Josh Magennis. These changes came to no avail however, as Shaun McWilliams would meet Nombe’s cross to add a third goal in the space of four minutes.
As the game approached the 90th minute, Jack Aitchison would launch a ball into the Millers' box towards Josh Magennis, the Northern-Irishman rising high but not connecting cleanly as his effort flew wide of Dawson's far post. With seven minutes added on, Sonny Cox would get his bite of the cherry, his shot not precise enough either however as it struck the outside of the net.
A day where nothing seemed to go in favour of the Grecians, the visitors left with all three points and climbed out of the relegation zone.
Match Details
Exeter City XI
Whitworth (GK), Fitzwater, Brierley, Mendes Gomes (Tutierov 57’), Wareham (Magennis 74’), Cole (Aitchison 57’), Niskanen, Woodhouse, Sweeney © (Cox 74’), Doyle-Hayes, Oakes (Higgins 57’)
Exeter City Unused Subs
Bycroft (GK), Turns
Yellow Cards
Brierley (24’), Magennis (83')
Rotherham United XI
Dawson (GK), Rafferty ©, Jules, James, Powell, Spence (Yearwood 74'), Nombe (Martha 77'), Baptiste, McWilliams, Gray, Gore (Adegboyega 40’)
Rotherham United Subs
Cann (GK), Agbaire, Holmes, Douglas
Goalscorers
Baptiste (29’), Rafferty (71'), Gray (72'), McWilliams (74')
Attendance
7,171 (incl. 282 from Rotherham United)