Exeter City wanting a fast start against Cambridge United
Exeter City have not scored in the opening 15 minutes of a league game at St James Park since Tim Dieng struck the opening goal in a 2-2 League Two draw with Walsall way back on October 2, 2021
IT is hard to believe, but Exeter City have not scored in the opening 15 minutes of a league game at St James Park since Tim Dieng struck the opening goal in a 2-2 League Two draw with Walsall way back on October 2, 2021.
Given that the Grecians went on to win promotion that season – and enjoyed such a good first campaign back in the third tier – you could be forgiven for thinking it doesn’t ring true, but it is. Alex Hartridge (five minutes) and Ryan Trevitt (13) managed it against Stevenage and Middlesbrough respectively, in this season’s Carabao Cup, but it is an incredible 54 league games since City’s home fans were treated to a goal inside the opening quarter of an hour.
Slow starts are often a topic of debate amongst supporters and now you know why. It is hard to believe a team is set up to be so defensive when the onus is on them to attack on home turf, but it is an issue that needs addressing. Today, the Grecians welcome Cambridge United to St James Park where a fast start would be more welcome. Although that would easily be sacrificed for three points against a side battling with the Grecians to avoid relegation.
That’s a hell of a stat,” Caldwell said. “That goes way back, even before me. It is something that we talk about and that stat shows that it is something that we need to talk about even more.
