Comeback victory for Exeter City

Two Peterborough own goals give City three points

A 2-1 win against Championship-chasing Peterborough - with no goals scored by Exeter players. Two own goals and a red card from the Posh massively help City across the line, but a huge victory nonetheless.

Exeter came into this game with relative confidence with three wins in their last six, climbing five points clear of relegation despite their 1-0 loss to Bristol Rovers last weekend. Five goals in that time is also easily better than at other points this season, and promising new striker Mo Eisa started on the bench.

Peterborough were sitting at 4th, only two points off automatic promotion. Their 3-2 loss to Wigan the week before ended a fabulous run of 11 games unbeaten - but they'd have been eyeing up this fixture. They've scored the most in the whole league, and while Exeter's defence have improved significantly recently they've still not got the most reliable of back lines. The Posh line up with two ex-City players in the starting 11 - Joel Randall, who left two years ago, and Archie Collins who made the move last summer.

The first half was really one-way traffic, Peterborough dominating as expected. It's easy to see how they've scored so many goals - for large parts of the 45 everyone except keeper Bilokapic pushed into their attacking half. 

Ten minutes in Randall thought he had scored against his former team. A long shot deflected off the back of centre-back Diabete right into the midfielders feet; he took it round Aimson and scuffed the shot - but it still dribbled under Sinisalo's hands. To the Finnish internationals qgreat relief, the linesman put up his flag - offside.

The Posh onslaught picked up after the disallowed goal, with several chances from out wide being wasted. All their movements were happening down the left-hand side - Posh's speedy wingers causing problem after problem for Niskanen and Aimson on the flank. The latter clipped Boro's Mason-Clark as he tried to dribble into the box, sending him to the floor - penalty. Posh captain Harrison Burrows calmly slotted it bottom left corner from the spot; no one will be saying it wasn't deserved.

However, Exeter really should have gone into the break level. City forward Aitchison managed to intercept Josh Knight's pass back to his keeper - all he had to do was beat Bilokapic. He took a touch that seemed to wrong-foot the goalie, but the young Australian managed to leap across and save Aitchison's shot that seemingly was going to slot into an open net. As much of an incredible save as a terrible miss, that was clearly the chance of the half for Caldwell's boys.

Peterborough did not change their style of play at half time - Exeter were very quickly under the cosh once again. Winger Olakigbe really should have scored a wide one-on-one five minutes in, and Mason-Clark watched an unchallenged heaper fall right into Sinisalo's arms - they were gunning for a second. A third chance in as many minutes appeared as Jones chopped past Aimson - his shot pushed away nearly to Randall for a tap-in. City were holding on by their prayers. 

And their prayers were answered. A silly kick from Michael Olakigbe on a forward-driving Luke Harris forced the ref to pull out a yellow. It took a moment for the big bank to realise he'd already been booked for a pull on Vincent Harper - Posh were suddenly down to 10 men.

Exeter predictably picked up the pace with a man advantage; Harper instantly unleashed a shot from the edge of box that smashed the woodwork. For the first time in the game City looked more likely to score - and score they did. Harper again pushing forward was fouled 30 yards out and won a free kick which captain Reece Cole, so good at set-pieces, immediately stood over. His curving shot deflected off the left-hand post and rolled across the goal before being forced into the bottom right-hand corner. There was some confusion over who actually scored the goal - the loudspeaker originally said Reece Cole had scored direct from the free kick, but after a closer look it was given as an own goal by the Posh keeper.

City's confidence obviously grew significantly after their equaliser - so much so that they found a winner five minutes later. Reece Cole again turning provider, he swung the ball in from the right for Diabate to connect to cleanly with a volley that deflected off right-back Katongo and flew into the back of the net. Again the loudspeaker got the goalscorer wrong - Diabate was originally thought to have scored but this was soon corrected to another own goal. Definitely a disappointment for the two players but no-one in the big bank will care - this would be a massive three points.

The whistle blew after six minutes of added time - a really important win for Exeter. Admittedly the red card and two own goals definitely helped the boys in red and white, but altogether this was a really impressive performance. To only conceded a penalty against the best attacking side in the league shows impressive defensive progression, and to win from behind demonstrates a team spirit and belief that has been missing all season. The win pushes City up to 14th, six points clear of the relegation zone they were lounging in a month ago. A great match for continuing a very good run of form - and hopes of staying in the third tier come next year are looking more and more realistic every week.

EXETER CITY STARTING 11 -

Sinisalo, Jules, Aimson, Carroll, Cole, Niskanen, Cox, Harris, Aitchison, Harper, Diabate

EXETER CITY SUBSTITUTES -

MacDonald, Hartridge, Woods, Wildschut, Rankine, Sweeney, Eisa

PETERBOROUGH UNITED STARTING 11 -

Bilokapic (OG), Katongo (OG), Burrows (⚽), Edwards, Knight, Mason-Clark, Randall, Olakigbe (🟥), Jones, Kyprianou, Collins

PETERBOROUGH UNITED SUBSTITUTES -

Steer, Chrichlow, Fuchs, De Havilland, Clarke-Harris, Ajiboye, Mothersille