2020–21 Exeter City F.C. season

The 2020–21 Exeter City season was the club's 119th year in existence and their ninth consecutive season in League Two.[1] They finished 9th in the league, failing to qualify for the play-offs on the final day.[2] The club reached the third round of the FA Cup, losing to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.[3] City were eliminated in the first round of the EFL Cup by Bristol City,[4] and were knocked out of the EFL Trophy in the second round by Northampton Town.[5]

Exeter City
2020–21 season
ChairmanJulian Tagg
ManagerMatt Taylor
StadiumSt James Park
League Two9th
FA CupThird round
EFL CupFirst round
EFL TrophySecond round
Top goalscorerLeague: Matt Jay (18)
All: Matt Jay (20)

The season covers the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.

Review

September

A tough League Cup draw away to Bristol City began Exeter's season, and despite a strong showing a young and inexperienced side lost 2–0 to the Championship club.[6] That result was quickly followed up by a 3–2 win against Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Trophy the following Tuesday,[7] before City began their League season on Saturday 12 September.

Exeter's League Two season began in the worst possible fashion as they conceded a goal inside the first two minutes of their opening League game away to Salford City. However, the Grecians galvanised and a strong end to the first half saw them go 2–1 up thanks to goals from Matt Jay and Joel Randall, the latter's first league goal for the club. Ash Hunter equalised in the second half to deny City the win, but it was still a strong showing against one of the pre-season promotion favourites.[8]

A home loss against Port Vale[9] was followed by another strong away showing, this time beating Mansfield Town 2–1 with young full-back Josh Key scoring his first league goal for the club.[10]

October

Unbeaten League Two leaders Cambridge United conceded their first league goal of the season at St James Park on October 3, as Matt Jay rolled home a penalty in the 16th minute. Joel Randall followed this up with another goal 18 minutes later, condemning the U's to their first league defeat of the season.[11]

Harry Kite, Ben Seymour and Alex Hartridge all scored their first professional goals for the club against League One outfit Swindon Town in the EFL Trophy in a thrilling tie that finished 4–3 to City at the County Ground,[12] before Alex Fisher produced a stunning top-corner curling shot in the last minute to save a point for the Grecians at Southend United.[13]

After drawing 0–0 at Walsall,[14] Jake Taylor and Ryan Bowman scored their first goals of the season against Crawley Town on 20 October, as their two late goals turned the game on its head to give City a 2–1 win.[15] That was followed by another home win, this time a convincing 3–1 dismantling of Scunthorpe United.[16] Between that Saturday and the following Tuesday both of City's first team goalkeepers, Lewis Ward and Jonny Maxted, suffered injuries and Exeter had to bring in Reading keeper Jökull Andrésson on a one-week emergency loan deal, ready to play against Leyton Orient and Carlisle United.

Andrésson only conceded once in his first two games as City drew 1–1 at Leyton Orient[17] and then beat 10-man Carlisle United 1–0,[18] with the 19-year-old keeper instantly winning over the belief and hearts of City fans on social media.

It was also at this time that City captain Jake Taylor got married, an event which coincided with his best run of goal scoring form in his career, as he scored four goals in five appearances in late October.[19]

November

A frustrating 2–2 at Morecambe began the month, as the Grecians controlled the majority of possession throughout the match but could not find the breakthrough for the winning goal.[20]

However, an FA Cup match at home to National League North side AFC Fylde saw the Grecians get back to winning ways as, despite an early scare with Fylde going in front in the 11th minute, goals from academy graduates Matt Jay and Alex Hartridge turned the game around before half time and City held on to this one-goal lead until the end of the match.[21]

Another 2–2 away draw, this time at Bradford City,[22] slowed down City's league progress but Exeter were still going strong in the cup, thrashing West Brom's under-21s 4–0[23] to secure a first place finish in their EFL Trophy group. That form still couldn't be replicated in the league and an astonishing 40-yard free-kick from Oldham Athletic striker Danny Rowe gave the Latics three points at St James Park,[24] and meant that the Grecians still hadn't won a League match in November, with it now being the 21st of the month.

That was all to change in spectacular style at home to Colchester United on Tuesday 24th, as a hattrick from Ryan Bowman, two Matt Jay goals and a strike from Joel Randall dismantled Colchester 6–1 in City's highest scoring win for over 20 years.[25] That match fuelled City with confidence as they headed to League One side Gillingham for the second round of the FA Cup, and a masterclass in the middle of midfield from Nicky Law, who scored once and provided two assists for Joel Randall, helped Exeter to overcome the Gills 3–2 and secure a spot in the third round of the FA Cup for the third time in six seasons and the first time under Matt Taylor as manager.[26] That match was the last of Jökull Andrésson's emergancy loan as Exeter goalkeeper Jonny Maxted had fully recovered from his injury, ready to play against Grimsby Town.

December

Exeter carried their fantastic goalscoring form into December, ripping apart Grimsby Town 4–1 on the 1st of the month.[27] This goalscoring run continued into the Grecians' first game of the season in front of fans, albeit Cheltenham Town fans at The Jonny-Rocks Stadium as the Government relaxed COVID-19 restrictions to allow home fans back into open-air stadiums in limited numbers.[28] City and Cheltenham did not disappoint the fans, as they played out a thrilling match with the Robins emerging 5–3 victors.[29]

A weakened City team were then knocked out of the EFL Trophy in the second round as they lost 2–1 to League One Northampton Town[30] but this loss did not deter the Grecians' startling League form and another high-scoring victory at home, this time against Tranmere Rovers, wowed the St James Park crowd. Ryan Bowman scored another hattrick, Matt Jay netted a penalty, and Jake Taylor added another strike to the best goal-scoring return of his career to wipe away Tranmere 5–0[31] in one of the best attacking performances seen at Exeter City in years.

In the most frustrating of turnarounds, Exeter could not repeat the same level of attacking ability just three days later at home to lowly Harrogate Town, and the Sulphurites beat the Grecians 2–1 in the shock result of the evening.[32]

With matches at Stevenage and Newport County being called off for COVID-19 cases and a waterlogged pitch respectively,[33][34] City only played one more match in December, a boxing day draw at home with Forest Green Rovers that featured a stunning goal from Archie Collins, a drive from outside the box that rebounded off the cross bar before going in.[35]

January

With City's game at Barrow on 2 January being called off due to a frozen pitch,[36] Exeter had to wait until 9 January to play their first game of 2021, a home match in the third round of the FA Cup to Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. This was City's first game for two weeks but despite the extended break, they could not get the better of higher-league Wednesday and lost 2–0.[37]

Exeter were quickly back in action in the league against former Premier League side Bolton Wanderers the following Tuesday, drawing 1–1 with the Trotters.[38] Another away match, this time at Harrogate Town, was called off on 16 January due to an unplayable pitch,[39] but the match was quickly rearranged for the 19th, and despite constant heavy rain in North Yorkshire the groundsmen at Harrogate managed to keep the rearranged fixture on. City struggled in their first away fixture for 45 days and couldn't break down a resilient Town so had to settle for a 0–0 draw.[40]

Matt Taylor made his first signing of the transfer window on 21 January, announcing that central defender Sam Stubbs had moved to the club from Fleetwood Town on a free transfer. The announcement of Stubbs' signing had been due a few weeks before this date, but he tested positive for COVID-19 so there had to be some delay in confirming this transfer. Stubbs also moved to the Grecians on the back of a long injury lay-off at Fleetwood and Matt Taylor confirmed that he wouldn't be featuring in the Grecians' first team for a few weeks as he recovered back to full fitness.[41]

A lack of goals in the team that scored so many was beginning to become a concern, but a 3–1 win over relegation-threatened Stevenage on 23 January helped dampen those fears, with Archie Collins opening the scoring with another thunderous shot into the same top corner as the goal he scored against Forest Green Rovers a month before.[42]

The good feeling generated by that win was quickly shot though as the Grecians finished the month with back-to-back defeats to fellow promotion hopefuls Morecambe and Carlisle United, losing 2–0 and 1–0 respectively.[43][44]

Between those two defeats first team goalkeeper Lewis Ward left the club on loan, joining League One club Portsmouth.[45] Ward hadn't been playing since his return from injury for the Grecians and had been on the bench behind Jonny Maxted, and so when the opportunity to move to a higher league club had presented itself, he requested that the move go through as soon as possible. Reading stopper Jökull Andrésson was brought back to the club, this time on a six-month loan deal until the end of the season as Ward's replacement,[46] and he made his second debut for the Grecians away at Carlisle.[43]

February

February 1 was the January transfer window deadline day,[47] and City made a single signing, bringing in experienced Newport County winger Robbie Willmott on loan until the end of the season.[48] Willmott made his debut the following day as a substitute away at Stevenage, with City facing the Hertfordshire club for the second time in just ten days due to games having to be rearranged because of COVID-19 cases at various clubs. Rory McArdle's first goal for the club, a glancing header from a freekick, secured a 1–0 win for City against the relegation-threatened club.[49]

An in-form Bradford City visited St James Park on 6 February and despite Exeter's early dominance, the Bantams went into the half-time break 2–1 up due to defensive mistakes by the Grecians. This was turned around in the second half though, and thanks to Bowman's stooping header and Jay's slow penalty, the game was turned on its head and City won the three points.[50]

Two more back-to-back away games at Barrow and Oldham Athletic were postponed as a cold spell hit most of the UK, with the Exeter squad actually arriving at Barrow's ground before the game was called off.[51]

These postponed games gave City a rest before they played fellow promotion challengers Newport County at Rodney Parade for the rearranged fixture on Tuesday 16. Exeter made a poor start to the game with defender Alex Hartridge sent off after nine minutes for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Despite having one man less than their opponents, Exeter still opened the scoring through Ryan Bowman. Just before half-time, the situation went from bad to worse, as Exeter were reduced to nine men with Bowman also receiving a straight red for elbowing an opponent. Against all the odds, nine man Exeter managed to hold Newport back until the 88th minute, and even then County could only score once and City escaped with a point.[52]

Exeter's squad were given another rest after their match at Newport as the following Saturday's game against Grimsby Town was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, the first home game of the season to fall foul of the weather.[53]

Then, Robbie Willmott scored his first City goal and Ben Seymour scored his first league goal in a 2–1 win against Colchester United,[54] before City ended the month on a less positive note, losing at Crawley Town, with former City striker Tom Nichols scoring against the Grecians and Tom Parkes being shown City's third straight red card of the month.[55]

March

City began the month with an uninspring 0–0 draw with Walsall at home.[56] After two drab games against Crawley and Walsall, City returned to winning ways against Leyton Orient on Saturday 6th, with first half goals from Joel Randall and Matt Jay (twice) putting the Grecians in a comfortable 3–0 lead at half-time. It took Jay just five minutes into the second half to complete his first ever professional hattrick, coolly slotting home a penalty to secure a 4–0 win for Exeter.[57] Jay continued this form into the following Tuesday when he scored a superb free-kick at Scunthorpe United, with Jack Sparkes netting his first league goal for the club to confirm City's first back-to-back wins since early February.[58]

However, the Grecians couldn't turn this form into their first three consecutive league wins of the season when table-topping Cheltenham Town visited St James Park as, despite a strong performance from the Grecians, a last-minute headed goal from Andy Williams stole the three points for the Robins at the death.[59] A trip to high-flying Tranmere Rovers followed the next weekend, and another defeat was compounded by the fact both of Tranmere's goals were scored from the penalty spot and Joel Randall suffered a season-ending injury while scoring City's equaliser.[60]

Exeter dominated in their next game at Oldham Athletic, having the majority of the ball and three times as many shots as their opponents, but two opportunistic goals and a lack of luck on City's behalf condemned the Grecians to three defeats in a row for the first time this season.[61]

Thankfully, this barren run was ended with a hint of luck on Saturday 27th against Salford City, in the Manchester club's first ever visit to St James Park. Exeter City had just one shot on target but that was all the Grecians needed to grind out a hard-fought 1–0 win against their fellow play-off rivals thanks to Matt Jay's 16th goal of the season.[62]

Transfers

Transfers in
Date Position Nationality Name From Fee Ref.
6 August 2020RBJake Caprice Tranmere RoversFree transfer[63]
6 August 2020CBRory McArdle Scunthorpe UnitedFree transfer[64]
1 September 2020LBLewis Page Charlton AthleticFree transfer[65]
21 January 2021CBSam Stubbs Fleetwood TownFree transfer[66]

Loans in
Date from Position Nationality Name From Date until Ref.
27 October 2020GKJökull Andrésson Reading28 November 2020[67][68]
29 January 2021GKJökull Andrésson ReadingEnd of season[69]
1 February 2021RMRobbie Willmott Newport CountyEnd of season[70]

    Loans out
    Date from Position Nationality Name To Date until Ref.
    4 August 2020CBCheick Diabate Bideford7 October 2020[lower-alpha 1][72]
    4 August 2020CFLewis Wilson Bideford1 January 2021[72]
    18 September 2020CMLouis Morison Tiverton Town1 January 2021[73]
    7 October 2020CBCheick Diabate Tiverton Town1 January 2021[71]
    8 October 2020CBJordan Dyer Chippenham TownNovember 2020[74]
    8 October 2020LBNoah Smerdon Chippenham TownNovember 2020[74]
    20 November 2020CBWill Dean Bath CityDecember 2020[75]
    28 January 2021GKLewis Ward PortsmouthEnd of season[76]
    1. Loan cut short to join Tiverton on loan.[71]

    Transfers out
    Date Position Nationality Name To Fee Ref.
    1 July 2020MFBrennan Dickenson Carlisle UnitedReleased[77][78]
    1 July 2020MFLee Holmes UnattachedReleased[77]
    1 July 2020DFAaron Martin Hamilton AcademicalReleased[77][79]
    1 July 2020MFLee Martin Ebbsfleet UnitedReleased[77][80]
    1 July 2020DFDean Moxey Torquay UnitedReleased[77][81]
    1 July 2020GKJared Thompson BrentfordReleased[77][82]
    1 July 2020DFGary Warren Torquay UnitedReleased[77][83]
    1 July 2020DFCraig Woodman Tiverton TownReleased[77][84]
    19 August 2020CMBen Chrisene Aston VillaUndisclosed[85]
    31 January 2021CMNicky Law Indy ElevenUndisclosed[86]

    Pre-season

    The Grecians announced they would play four pre-season friendlies against Bristol Rovers, Taunton Town, Tiverton Town and Truro City.[87] Fans were only permitted to attend the Tiverton Town match.[88]

    15 August 2020 Friendly Bristol Rovers 2–1 Exeter City Horfield
    14:00 BST Mitchell-Lawson  1'
    Hargreaves  46'    		 Report Parkes  49' Stadium: Memorial Stadium
    Attendance: 0
    21 August 2020 Friendly Exeter City 1–1 Taunton Town Clyst St Mary
    18:00 BST Fisher  75' Report Holmes  11' Stadium: Cliff Hill Training Ground
    Attendance: 0
    25 August 2020 Friendly Tiverton Town 1–2 Exeter City Tiverton
    19:30 BST Lewington Report Jay
    Dean     		Stadium: Ladysmead
    Attendance: 300
    28 August 2020 Friendly Exeter City 3−2 Truro City Clyst St Mary
    18:00 BST Jay  18'
    Bowman  50', 89'    		 Harvey  33', 77' Stadium: Cliff Hill Training Ground
    Attendance: 0

    Competitions

    EFL League Two
    Main article: 2020–21 EFL League Two

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
    5 Newport County 46 20 13 13 57 42 +15 73 Qualification for League Two play-offs
    6 Forest Green Rovers 46 20 13 13 59 51 +8 73
    7 Tranmere Rovers 46 20 13 13 55 50 +5 73
    8 Salford City 46 19 14 13 54 34 +20 71
    9 Exeter City 46 18 16 12 71 50 +21 70
    10 Carlisle United 46 18 12 16 60 51 +9 66
    11 Leyton Orient 46 17 10 19 53 55 −2 61
    12 Crawley Town 46 16 13 17 56 62 −6 61
    13 Port Vale 46 17 9 20 57 57 0 60
    Updated to match(es) played on 31 May 2021. Source: EFL Official Website
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[89]

    Results summary
    OverallHomeAway
    PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
    46 18 16 12 71 50  +21 70 11 7 5 38 20  +18 7 9 7 33 30  +3

    Last updated: 8 May 2021.
    Source: BBC

    Results by matchday
    Matchday12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
    GroundAHAHAAHHAHAAHHAAHHHHAHHAAHAAAHHAHAAHAHAAHAHHAH
    ResultDLWWDDWWDWDDLWWLWLDDDWLLWWDWLDWWLLLWLDWLDDDWWD
    Position819156812956444653555710108998576898888888888889989
    Updated to match(es) played on 8 May 2021. Source: 11v11 for league tables and fixtures
    A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

    Matches

      Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

    The 2020–21 season fixtures were released on 21 August 2020.[90]

    12 September 2020 1 Salford City 2–2 Exeter City Salford
    15:00 BST Henderson  2'
    Hunter  69'    		 Report Jay  22'
    Randall  34'    		 Stadium: The Peninsula Stadium
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Samuel Barrott
    19 September 2020 2 Exeter City 0–2 Port Vale Exeter
    15:00 BST Report Conlon  21'
    Rodney  72'    		 Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Sam Burkiss
    26 September 2020 3 Mansfield Town 1–2 Exeter City Mansfield
    15:00 BST Menayese  20' Report Rawson  40' (o.g.)
    Key  76'    		 Stadium: Field Mill
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Christopher Pollard
    3 October 2020 4 Exeter City 2–0 Cambridge United Exeter
    15:00 BST Jay  16' (pen.)
    Randall  34'    		 Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Neil Hair
    10 October 2020 5 Southend United 2–2 Exeter City Southend-on-sea
    15:00 BST Goodship  26'
    Demetriou  65' (pen.)    		 Report Randall  40'
    Fisher  90+5'    		 Stadium: Roots Hall
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Kevin Johnson
    17 October 2020 6 Walsall 0–0 Exeter City Bescot
    15:00 BST Report Stadium: Banks's Stadium
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Ben Speedie
    20 October 2020 7 Exeter City 2–1 Crawley Town Exeter
    19:00 BST Taylor  77'
    Bowman  84'    		 Report Watters  40' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Will Finnie
    24 October 2020 8 Exeter City 3–1 Scunthorpe United Exeter
    13:00 BST Randall  36'
    Jay  39'
    Taylor  89'    		 Report Rowe  48' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: David Rock
    27 October 2020 9 Leyton Orient 1–1 Exeter City Leyton
    19:00 GMT Wilkinson  4' Report Taylor  47' Stadium: Brisbane Road
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Robert Lewis
    31 October 2020 10 Exeter City 1–0 Carlisle United Exeter
    13:00 GMT Parkes  48' Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: James Adcock
    3 November 2020 11 Morecambe 2–2 Exeter City Morecambe
    18:30 GMT Mendes Gomes  41'
    Hendrie  45+1'    		 Report Randall  33'
    Taylor  72'    		 Stadium: Globe Arena
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Ollie Yates
    14 November 2020 12 Bradford City 2–2 Exeter City Bradford
    15:00 GMT Clarke  10'
    Staunton  45+1'    		 Report Jay  20'
    Bowman  27'    		 Stadium: Valley Parade
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: James Bell
    21 November 2020 13 Exeter City 1–2 Oldham Athletic Exeter
    15:00 GMT Williams  12' Report Blackwood  21'
    Rowe  32'    		 Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Steve Martin
    24 November 2020 14 Exeter City 6–1 Colchester United Exeter
    19:00 GMT Jay  20', 90+5'
    Randall  53'
    Bowman  57', 71', 90+3'    		 Report Folivi  73' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Trevor Kettle
    1 December 2020 15 Grimsby Town 1–4 Exeter City Cleethorpes
    19:00 GMT Hendrie  31' Report Bowman  20'
    Williams  40', 44'
    Jay  68'    		 Stadium: Blundell Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Andy Haines
    5 December 2020 16 Cheltenham Town 5–3 Exeter City Cheltenham
    15:00 GMT Lloyd  7'
    May  13'
    Sercombe  45+3' (pen.)
    A. Williams  77'
    Boyle  90+1'    		 Report Collins  4'
    Jay  56'
    Law  88'    		 Stadium: Whaddon Road
    Attendance: 2,000
    Referee: Robert Madley
    12 December 2020 17 Exeter City 5–0 Tranmere Rovers Exeter
    15:00 GMT Bowman  8', 27', 77'
    Jay  18' (pen.)
    Taylor  73'    		 Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 1,630
    Referee: Kevin Johnson
    15 December 2020 18 Exeter City 1–2 Harrogate Town Exeter
    19:45 GMT Taylor  46' Report Kiernan  31'
    Muldoon  75'    		 Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 1,559
    Referee: Lee Swabey
    19 December 2020 Postponed[91] Stevenage P–P Exeter City Stevenage
    15:00 GMT Stadium: Broadhall Way
    26 December 2020 19 Exeter City 1–1 Forest Green Rovers Exeter
    13:00 GMT Archie Collins  37' Report Aaron Collins  16' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 1,767
    Referee: Brett Huxtable
    29 December 2020 Postponed[92] Newport County P–P Exeter City Newport, Wales
    19:00 GMT Stadium: Rodney Parade
    Referee: John Busby
    2 January 2021 Postponed[93] Barrow P–P Exeter City Barrow-in-Furness
    15:00 GMT Stadium: Holker Street
    12 January 2021 20 Exeter City 1–1 Bolton Wanderers Exeter
    17:00 GMT Almeida Santos  62' (o.g.) Report Ghahoua  73' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Sam Allison
    16 January 2021 Postponed[94] Harrogate Town P–P Exeter City Harrogate
    15:00 GMT Stadium: Wetherby Road
    19 January 2021 21 Harrogate Town 0–0 Exeter City Harrogate
    19:00 GMT Report Stadium: Wetherby Road
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Thomas Bramall
    23 January 2021 22 Exeter City 3–1 Stevenage Exeter
    13:00 GMT Collins  10'
    Jay  79'
    Bowman  85'    		 Report List  81' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Matt Donohue
    26 January 2021 23 Exeter City 0–2 Morecambe Exeter
    18:00 GMT Report Phillips  9' (pen.)
    Stockton  66'    		 Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Craig Hicks
    30 January 2021 24 Carlisle United 1–0 Exeter City Carlisle
    13:00 GMT Alessandra  9' Report Stadium: Brunton Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Martin Coy
    2 February 2021 25 Stevenage 0–1 Exeter City Stevenage
    19:00 GMT Report McArdle  28' Stadium: Broadhall Way
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Graham Salisbury
    6 February 2021 26 Exeter City 3–2 Bradford City Exeter
    13:00 GMT Sweeney  42'
    Bowman  61'
    Jay  79' (pen.)    		 Report Vernam  17'
    Crankshaw  45'    		 Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Ben Speedie
    9 February 2021 Postponed[95] Barrow P–P Exeter City Barrow-in-Furness
    18:30 GMT Stadium: Holker Street
    13 February 2021 Postponed[96] Oldham Athletic P–P Exeter City Oldham
    15:00 GMT Stadium: Boundary Park
    16 February 2021 27 Newport County 1–1 Exeter City Newport, Wales
    19:00 GMT Telford  88' Report Bowman  22' Stadium: Rodney Parade
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Tom Nield
    20 February 2021 Postponed[97] Exeter City P–P Grimsby Town Exeter
    13:00 GMT Stadium: St James Park
    23 February 2021 28 Colchester United 1–2 Exeter City Colchester
    19:00 GMT Oteh  66' Report Willmott  27'
    Seymour  64'    		 Stadium: Colchester Community Stadium
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Will Finnie
    27 February 2021 29 Crawley Town 2–0 Exeter City Crawley
    13:00 GMT Nichols  62' (pen.)
    Nadesan  83'    		 Report Stadium: The People's Pension Stadium
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Declan Bourne
    2 March 2021 30 Exeter City 0–0 Walsall Exeter
    19:00 GMT Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: John Busby
    6 March 2021 31 Exeter City 4–0 Leyton Orient Exeter
    13:00 GMT Randall  11'
    Jay  13', 42', 50' (pen.)    		 Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Charles Breakspear
    9 March 2021 32 Scunthorpe United 0–2 Exeter City Scunthorpe
    19:00 GMT Report Jay  11'
    Sparkes  89'    		 Stadium: Glanford Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Seb Stockbridge
    13 March 2021 33 Exeter City 0–1 Cheltenham Town Exeter
    15:00 GMT Report A. Williams  90+1' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Josh Smith
    20 March 2021 34 Tranmere Rovers 2–1 Exeter City Birkenhead
    15:00 GMT Nugent  18' (pen.)
    Lloyd  68' (pen.)    		 Report Randall  20' Stadium: Prenton Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Paul Howard
    23 March 2021 35 Oldham Athletic 2–1 Exeter City Oldham
    19:00 GMT Jameson  35'
    McCalmont  55'    		 Report Sparkes  67' Stadium: Boundary Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Sam Purkiss
    27 March 2021 36 Exeter City 1–0 Salford City Exeter
    13:00 GMT Jay  34' Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Antony Coggins
    2 April 2021 37 Port Vale 1–0 Exeter City Burslem
    15:00 BST Robinson  2' Report Stadium: Vale Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Leigh Doughty
    5 April 2021 38 Exeter City 0–0 Mansfield Town Exeter
    13:00 BST Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Carl Brook
    10 April 2021 39 Cambridge United 1–4 Exeter City Cambridge
    15:00 BST Ironside  55' Report Bowman  3'
    Sparkes  15'
    Collins  67'
    Jay  80'    		 Stadium: Abbey Stadium
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Kevin Johnson
    13 April 2021 40 Barrow 2–1 Exeter City Barrow-in-Furness
    19:00 BST Brough  45+2'
    Quigley  90+1'    		 Report Sweeney  90+4' Stadium: Holker Street
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Ross Joyce
    17 April 2021 41 Exeter City 0–0 Southend United Exeter
    12:30 BST Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Darren Drysdale
    20 April 2021 42 Forest Green Rovers 0–0 Exeter City Nailsworth
    19:00 BST Report Stadium: The New Lawn
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Bobby Madley
    24 April 2021 43 Exeter City 0–0 Newport County Exeter
    15:00 BST Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Robert Lewis
    27 April 2021 44 Exeter City 3–2 Grimsby Town Exeter
    19:00 BST Waterfall  33' (o.g.)
    Fisher  83'
    Bowman  89'    		 Report John-Lewis  41' (pen.)
    Matete  58'    		 Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: David Rock
    1 May 2021 45 Bolton Wanderers 1–2 Exeter City Horwich
    19:00 BST Jones  15' Report R. Williams  49'
    Sweeney  90+6'    		 Stadium: University of Bolton Stadium
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Anthony Backhouse
    8 May 2021 46 Exeter City 1–1 Barrow Exeter
    15:00 BST Jay  25' Report Beadling  56' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Ben Toner

    FA Cup
    Main article: 2020–21 FA Cup

    The draw for the first round was made on Monday 26, October.[98] The second round draw was revealed on Monday, 9 November by Danny Cowley.[99] The draw for the third round was made by Robbie Savage.[100]

      Win   Draw   Loss

    7 November 2020 First round Exeter City 2–1 AFC Fylde Exeter
    13:00 GMT Jay  26'
    Hartridge  33'    		 Report Hulme  11' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Tom Reeves
    28 November 2020 Second round Gillingham 2–3 Exeter City Gillingham
    13:00 GMT Oliver  21'
    Samuel  80'    		 Report Law  29'
    Randall  35', 40'    		 Stadium: Priestfield Stadium
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Alan Young
    9 January 2021 Third round Exeter City 0–2 Sheffield Wednesday Exeter
    15:00 GMT Report Reach  27'
    Paterson  90'    		 Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Dean Whitestone

    EFL Cup
    Main article: 2020–21 EFL Cup

      Win   Draw   Loss

    The first round draw was made on 18 August, live on Sky Sports, by Paul Merson.[101]

    5 September 2020 First round Bristol City 2–0 Exeter City Ashton Gate
    14:00 BST Paterson  35'
    Semenyo  83'    		 Report Stadium: Ashton Gate Stadium
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Chris Sarginson

    EFL Trophy
    Main article: 2020–21 EFL Trophy

      Win   Draw   Loss

    The regional group stage draw was confirmed on 18 August.[102] The second round draw was made by Matt Murray on 20 November, at St Andrew's.[103]

    Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
    1 L2 Exeter City 3 3 0 0 0 11 5 +6 9 Advance to Round 2
    2 L2 Forest Green Rovers 3 1 0 0 2 5 4 +1 3
    3 L1 Swindon Town 3 1 0 0 2 6 7 −1 3
    4 ACA West Bromwich Albion U21 3 1 0 0 2 3 9 −6 3
    Source: EFL.com

    Group stage
    8 September 2020 First round Exeter City 3–2 Forest Green Rovers Exeter
    17:30 BST Ajose  45'
    Jay  57'
    Key  67'    		 Report Stevens  5', 51' Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Sam Allison
    6 October 2020 First round Swindon Town 3–4 Exeter City Swindon
    19:00 BST Smith  61', 85'
    Palmer  90+3'    		 Report Kite  4'
    Seymour  7' (pen.)
    Atangana  63'
    Hartridge  68'    		 Stadium: County Ground
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Craig Hicks
    17 November 2020 Group stage Exeter City 4–0 West Bromwich Albion U21 Exeter
    19:00 GMT Kite  27'
    Seymour  48'
    Sparkes  60'
    Law  84'    		 Report Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 0
    Referee: Paul Howard

    Knock-out stage
    8 December 2020 Second round Exeter City 1–2 Northampton Town Exeter
    19:00 GMT Atangana  51' Report Rose  22'
    Ashley-Seal  82'    		 Stadium: St James Park
    Attendance: 714
    Referee: Carl Brook

    Statistics
    No. Pos Nat Player TotalLeague TwoFA CupLeague CupLeague Trophy
    AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
    2 DF  ENG Jake Caprice 39013+2102+000+003+00
    3 MF  ENG Jack Sparkes 50428+1432+100+104+01
    4 MF  FRA Nigel Atangana 33211+1701+101+002+02
    6 DF  NIR Rory McArdle 27118+313+001+002+00
    8 MF  WAL Jake Taylor 50640+461+200+101+10
    9 FW  ENG Ben Seymour 3938+2511+100+103+02
    10 MF  ENG Archie Collins 49446+042+001+000+00
    11 MF  ENG Randell Williams 31424+541+001+000+00
    12 FW  ENG Ryan Bowman 471439+3143+001+001+00
    14 MF  ENG Joel Randall 361026+482+121+000+20
    15 DF  ENG Tom Parkes 33128+311+000+001+00
    16 MF  ENG Robbie Willmott 17113+410+000+000+00
    17 FW  ENG Matt Jay 482043+1182+011+001+01
    18 FW  ENG Alex Fisher 2023+1520+000+002+00
    20 DF  ENG Lewis Page 35026+602+001+000+00
    23 GK  ENG Jonny Maxted 1209+000+000+003+00
    24 GK  ISL Jökull Andrésson 32029+002+000+001+00
    25 FW  ENG Nicky Ajose 910+400+100+003+11
    26 DF  IRL Pierce Sweeney 42332+631+100+001+10
    29 MF  ENG Harry Kite 921+301+000+004+02
    30 DF  ENG Joshua Key 48236+712+101+001+01
    31 DF  ENG Jordan Dyer 400+100+000+002+10
    32 MF  ENG Nelson Iseguan 100+000+000+001+00
    33 MF  ENG Louis Morison 100+000+000+000+10
    34 DF  ENG Alex Hartridge 34220+902+010+003+01
    39 DF  ENG Cheick Diabate 100+000+000+000+10
    40 FW  ENG Lewis Wilson 100+000+000+000+10
    41 DF  ENG Will Dean 602+000+001+003+00
    Players who left on loan during the season:
    1 GK  ENG Lewis Ward 1008+001+001+000+00
    Players who left during the season:
    7 MF  ENG Nicky Law 2334+1412+110+002+01

    Goals record
    RankNo.Nat.Po.NameLeague TwoFA CupLeague CupLeague TrophyTotal
    1 17AMMatt Jay1810120
    2 12CFRyan Bowman1400014
    3 14LWJoel Randall820010
    4 8CMJake Taylor60006
    5 3LBJack Sparkes30014
    10CMArchie Collins40004
    11RWRandell Williams40004
    8 7CMNicky Law11013
    9CFBen Seymour10023
    26CBPierce Sweeney30003
    11 4DMNigel Atangana00022
    18CFAlex Fisher20002
    29CMHarry Kite00022
    30RBJoshua Key10012
    34CBAlex Hartridge01012
    16 6CBRory McArdle10001
    15CBTom Parkes10001
    16RWRobbie Willmott10001
    25CFNicky Ajose00011
    Own Goals30003
    Total71501288

    Disciplinary record
    No. Nat. Po. Name League Two FA Cup League Cup League Trophy Total
         
    3LBJack Sparkes300100100000500
    4DMNigel Atangana200100000000300
    6CBRory McArdle200100000000300
    7CMNicky Law100000000000100
    8CMJake Taylor500000000000500
    10CMArchie Collins400000000000400
    12CFRyan Bowman501000000000501
    14LWJoel Randall200000000000200
    15CBTom Parkes501000000000501
    16LMRobbie Willmott300000000000300
    17AMMatt Jay100000000000100
    20LBLewis Page300000000000300
    23GKJonny Maxted100000000000100
    26CBPierce Sweeney500000000100600
    30RBJoshua Key200000000000200
    34CBAlex Hartridge201000000000201
    Total46033001001005103

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