Injury-ridden Exeter lose at home

Former Premiership star scores Derby double

A one-goal loss on a warm Tuesday evening now appears nothing unusual for St James Park.

Exeter, though, had a seriously depleted side, with star strikers Sam Nombe and Jay Stansfield out with injuries, so a debut strike partnership in youth product Sonny Cox and recent signing James Scott stepped in - combined they've scored only two goals this season. Both sides had won one game in their last five, so few were expecting top-notch flowing football. 

Derby started in seventh place, and fighting for a play-off place. Their team includes multiple recognisable Irish internationals and ex-premier league names such as Conor Hourihane and David McGoldrick.

And the latter scores. A rare moment of quality in this match from McGoldrick - best known for his time at Sheffield United - saw him bring the ball down on his chest before getting barged over by centre-back Alex Hartridge for a free-kick a few yards outside the area. The veteran stepped up himself and curled it beautifully into the corner to put Derby one-nil up on the 55th minute.

He scored again 20 minutes later, holding onto possession on the edge of the area before laying the ball to Mendez-Laing who passed back to McGoldrick - or, as the Derby fans affectionately call him, Didzy - and with one touch, arrowed it into the net.

Exeter's goal was well constructed, with full-back Josh Key pinging one into the box following a period of possession for newly subbed on Jack Sparkes to header home, past a flapping keeper. He nearly equalised two minutes later too, but his a piledriver of a shot blazing just over.

Earlier, the match had started well, with an amazing save at either end denying an exciting opener before 15 minutes had gone. The Ram's chance came within two minutes - the ball was sent in and bumbled around in the box, eventually deflecting to the path of McGoldrick, who was brilliantly smothered by City keeper Jamal Blackman. Exeter came even closer - some tricky work down the left-hand side from Kegs Chauke opened up a chance for Jake Caprice to send a ball into the box, which Scott headered down powerfully - only an excellent diving hand from Derby goalie Joe Wildsmith could keep it out.

After the two chances, a mid-half hiatus of activity set in - and carried on all the way to half time. Both teams seemed rather lacklustre, and neither fanbases particularly entertained. A well-worked City corner routine straight from the (new) training ground was the closest either team got to breaking the deadlock in the following half hour; not a half anyone will be talking about.

The second half started much the same - nothing really happening. Even after Derby scored their first, Exeter remained placid and unthreatening, while Derby seemed to grow in confidence, eventually scoring again. But their second seemed to revitalise Gary Caldwell's boys, who scored almost instantly and improved massively in the last ten - but to no avail. Josh Key's constant darting runs down the right-hand side provided a window of opportunity - as it does every game - but no vital goal was scored. The game finished two-one to Derby, and City drop to 14th.

EXETER CITY STARTING 11 - 

Blackman, Key, Sweeney, Aimson (C), Hartridge, Caprice (OFF 68), Kite (OFF 68), Chauke (OFF 81), Collins, Scott (OFF 68), Cox

EXETER CITY SUBSTITUTES -

Woods, Sparkes (ON 68, ⚽), Grounds, Harper, Borges (ON 81), White (ON 68), Coley (ON 68)

DERBY COUNTY STARTING 11 -

Wildsmith, Forsyth, Hourihane, Cashin, Bird, McGoldrick (⚽⚽) (OFF 87), Mendez-Laing (A) (OFF 87), Roberts (🟨), Sibley (OFF 81), Davies (C), Knight

DERBY COUNTY SUBSTITUTES -

McGee, Rooney, Smith (ON 81), White, Barkhuizen, Dobbin (ON 87), Collins (ON 87)