Ninth loss in 11 games lead to City fans' disquiet

Boos send fans' message to club

An Olly Arblaster tap-in was the difference between Exeter City and fellow strugglers Port Vale, in a game which again highlighted many of City’s shortcomings as murmurings grow louder about the future for manager Gary Calldwell. 

Until the goal, the game had been scrappy, with both sides understandably cautious given that ahead of kick-off they both occupied the places just above the drop zone.

City's poor defending led to the game’s only goal, as a free header from a corner was miscued by Pierce Sweeney, and Arblaster poked the ball home from just a few yards out.

From then on Vale sat back, looking to secure a first away win in six games, allowing Exeter to have most of the possession, and occasionally breaking. 

Multiple crosses came in from Exeter wing-backs Niskanen and Dion Rankine, but the lack of a real striker in the Exeter line up proved a problem, with no runs into the box to meet any of them, and Port Vale's keeper Connor Ripley saw the ball bounce wide of his goal almost every time.

City created chances, but couldn’t finish them, even after the introduction of supposed striker James Scott.  Close range efforts from Exeter’s Yanic Wildschut and Jack Aitschson were both fired straight at Ripley, while Brentford loanee Ryan Trevitt blasted over from the edge of the box. 

Port Vale did occasionally break, and it was generally the pacey half time substitute Uche Ikpeazu at the centre of the action. He won virtually every header he went for and thought he had due reward for his efforts when his one-on-one shot appeared perfectly placed inside the right-hand post, but Exeter’s Finnish international goalkeeper Viljami Sinsalo saved well to his left. 

Ikpeazu’s direct dribbling proved a further problem for City when he was tripped cynically by Exeter skipper Will Aimson, who would otherwise have had to let him run in on goal for a second time. It could have been a straight red but Aimson was already on a yellow for a similar foul earlier on and saw red immediately.

The atmosphere among the home fans had been one of frustration and anger from the moment that Vale scored, especially given City’s poor passing and wastefulness in front of goal throughout, and the crowd made their feelings towards Gary Cauldwell clear at the full-time whistle. 

The Exeter board had previously backed Caldwell, but now face a tough decision, given that the club prides itself on being fan-owned, and fans have now given a direct message that they do not feel that he is the right man to keep the Grecians in League One.

Final score: Exeter City 0 Port Vale 1