Next Up: Exeter City vs Luton Town
City finished off 2025 with a much-needed away win, completing a double over AFC Wimbledon thanks to Jayden Wareham’s tenth goal of the season. With the League One table incredibly bunched up, Gary Caldwell’s side know that a run of form could propel the Grecians up the table, but a defeat on new year’s day may land City back in the relegation zone. There was good news on the injury front as Sonny Cox’s absence against Cardiff was only temporary, while Carlos Mendes Gomes continued his comeback with a lively cameo on Monday night.
Having suffered successive relegations, Luton’s poor start led to a change in manager with Jack Wilshere returning to his first club to take the reins. With the top eight now stretching clear of the chasing pack the Hatters find themselves on the edge of the promotion race in 8th place following successive comprehensive home wins over the Christmas period. Away form has been more patchy, however, with no wins on the road since beating Stockport 3-0 at the beginning of November. Gideon Kodua and Jordan Clark have been the main sources of goals, with seven and six in the league respectively. Neither of Luton’s former City players, Millenic Alli and Jake Richards, have featured recently and it remains to be seen whether either will be fit to make the trip.
While the sides haven’t met in the league since Luton’s promotion season in League Two in 2017/18, there was a fixture at the beginning of December at Kenilworth Road in the EFL Trophy, and Alli was in top form that night as Luton handed City a 4-0 thrashing – Nordas (2), Morris and Nelson scoring the goals. The last league match at the Park in October 2017 was similarly one-sided – Collins opened the scoring for Luton, this was cancelled out by Jake Taylor, but second half strikes from Potts, Hylton and Cornick sealed a 4-1 win. That win, coupled with the 1-0 victory in the return, extended Luton’s league head to head lead to 27-11, 14 matches finishing level.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Matthew Russell
Assistant Referees: James Tewson, Kevin Morris
Fourth Official: Richie Watkins
Matthew Russell last took charge of an Exeter match in September when City lost 2-0 at the Park to Port Vale. SO far this season he’s taken charge of 15 games, issuing 30 yellow cards and sending off 2 players.
Interview with Gary Caldwell
Interview with Ethan Brierley