Exeter City v Birmingham postponed

Too many players on international duty

Exeter City’s home match against Birmingham this Saturday has been postponed because of international call ups to several Birmingham players.

Rules that clubs can push a game back during an international break if three or more of squad members have been picked for their countries.

As part of their expensive push for promotion out of the third tier, the Midlands' club signed several international players over the summer, four of whom have selected for the Nations League matches taking place this week and next.

Alongside the Icelandic duo of Alfons Sampsted and Willum Willumson, Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes (who only missed the Euros via injury and whose arrival at Birmingham was seen as something of a coup for the midlands club) and Northern Irish goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrel will be taking part in the weekend’s international fixtures from the Birmingham camp.

Although they wouldn’t have had the chance to request the postponement of the fixture themselves, City will still be without two squad members for the same reasons. Veteran striker Josh Magennis will be involved for Northern Ireland, whilst left back Ilmari Niskanen could be faced with keeping Bukayo Saka quiet on Tuesday evening, as Niskanen’s Finland side face England at Wembley. 

The fixture will be moved to a Tuesday evening, likely after Christmas. This will certainly be a disappointment for everyone at Exeter, as it delays the return of Grecian academy product and former player, the much-loved Jay Stansfield- son of former striker Adam- to St James Park after his record breaking £15 million move to Birmingham on deadline day. 

Despite not being able to welcome Stansfield back to his hometown club (or indeed take the chance to thank Birmingham for paying such extravagant money for the striker, as a cut of the fee will be pocketed by the Grecians), Exeter manager Gary Caldwell will see the two free weeks as a chance for his side to reset and adjust their approach on the pitch after an up and down start to the season. 

City will be back up and running with a trip to the northeast coast to face Blackpool the Saturday after next, where both sides will have a full complement of players and Exeter will look to spoil new Blackpool manager Steve Bruce’s opening game in charge.