Four goals from four different goalscorers saw City seal their first three points of the season in style, dispatching Blackpool 4-1 at St James Park!
Reece Cole opened the scoring with a low finish across the box after just four minutes, before Jack Fitzwater doubled the Grecians' lead with a header 10 minutes later. Blackpool pulled one back midway through the half with a well-worked free-kick routine, but that didn't deter City. Strike duo Jayden Wareham and Sonny Cox produced two poachers finishes at either end of the second half to hammer home the Grecians' first win of the 2025/26 campaign!
City made two changes from the side that lost to Doncaster on the opening day of the season, with Jake Doyle-Hayes coming in to make his debut from the start, while Jack Aitchison also made his first start of the season. Josh Magennis also returned to the bench, making the matchday squad for the first time since a 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic in April.
First half
The Grecians raced into the lead in front of a raucous St James Park crowd, scoring with the first attack of the game. A quick throw made it's way to Jayden Wareham, who spotted Reece Cole in space inside the box. City's stand-in skipper hit the ball hard and low across goal and in, igniting a roar from the Big Bank after just four minutes.
Chipped balls down the wings seemed to be where City were finding the most joy, with Ilmari Niskanen winning several corners throughout the first half, and from one in the 14th minute Exeter found a second.
Cole went from scorer to provider as his chipped set-piece into the six-yard box was met by the head of Jack Fitzwater, and despite the keeper getting a hand to it he couldn't keep it out, and City were two up.
Attacks kept flowing for City, as next, Brieley was found by Cole down the right, and the Brentford loanee chipped it into the middle for Wareham, but his fierce shot went just wide and into the away end.
Despite this good attacking play the Grecians would be pegged back in the 21st minute, as Blackpool netted in front of the Big Bank. After winning a free-kick on the top left corner just inches away from the box, Tangerine captain Lee Evans sent a dangerous ball into the box which was headed in by Ashley Fletcher.
However, that didn't deter City's attacking spirits, as McMillan and Aitchison both tested with visiting keeper Peacock-Farrell with shots on target before the Scottish wing-back was found by another wicked Reece Cole cross, but just yards out he shot over.
Niskanen had the final chance of the half five minutes before the end as he cut in from the right, his shot took a wild deflection which almost caused carnage for the keeper with Aitchison approaching, but luckily for Pool he plamed the ball out.
Second half
The second 45 started slower to it's first counterpart, with Blackpool enjoying more possession but neither side threatening. Just before the hour mark though City won a free-kick around 35 yards from goal on the left, and from that came goal number three.
Cole dinked a ball to the back post where it was met again by Fitzwater, he knocked a header back across goal where it fell for Wareham to poke home, and net his first Grecians goal in front of a jubilant Big Bank. After celebrating with the crowd, City's latest number nine turned around and pointed at the Adam Stansfield Stand.
From there on both teams made several changes, and it was a City one who had the next chance, as Sonny Cox, who had replaced the impressive debutant Jake Doyle-Hayes, picked up the ball just past the halfway line. He drove centrally towards goal before narrowly shooting wide from 25 yards.
City continued to play with confidence, as Aitchison curled an effort over before Cox shot wide again, but Sonny would get his opportunity just minutes before the full-time whistle.
Coming back on for his first appearance since April, Josh Magennis won and took a quick throw in on the right and found Niskanen. The Finn cut into the box before playing it back for Cox, who finished from close range in front of the Big Bank to put the icing on the cake.
Four goals, three points, two strikers scoring and a first win of the season for City!
Up Next:
City travel to Cheltenham Town in the EFL Cup on Wednesday before returning to SJP next weekend to face Mansfield Town. Get your tickets now!
City XI: Whitworth (GK), Niskanen, Swinkels, Fitzwater, Turns, McMillan, Brierley, Doyle-Hayes (Cox 71'), Cole (C) (McDonald, 80'), Aitchison (Dean, 85'), Wareham (Magennis, 80').
Subs not used: Bycroft (GK), Birch, Cummins
Goals: Cole 4', Fitzwater 14', Wareham 60', Cox 90'
Blackpool XI: Peacock-Farrell (GK), Lyons, Casey, Brown, Evans, Ennis, Honeyman, Fletcher, Coulson, Ihiekwe, Hansson.
Subs: Ravizzoli (GK), Bloxham, Ebiowei, Hamilton, Ashworth, Finnigan
Goal: Fletcher 21'
Attendance: 6852 (548 away)