Next Up: Exeter City vs Rotherham United

City’s unbeaten league run is now at six matches after Luca Woodhouse came to the rescue in injury time at Reading on Tuesday night, and attention now turns to the visit of a side struggling at the bottom of the table. Gary Caldwell shuffled his pack on Tuesday with Jake Doyle-Hayes and Carlos Mendes Gomes both missing the trip, but with Jack McMillan limping off on his first start since a couple of weeks out Doyle-Hayes in particular is needed to be back in contention otherwise the midfield looks quite threadbare. In better news Johnly Yfeko came back into the squad after missing several weeks and will be hoping to have put the injury problems that have plagued his spell at City behind him.

Rotherham probably had hopes of a better campaign than last season’s stuttering display, but it hasn’t worked out that way, with the Millers firmly in the relegation mix albeit having picked up four points in two home games against fellow strugglers in the last week – ending a run of eight straight defeats (seven in the league). Matt Hamshaw, who replaced the colourful Steve Evans in the dugout last season, is under pressure to deliver a turnaround, and will no doubt have seen the results against AFC Wimbledon and Northampton as massive morale boosters. One reason for their malaise could be down to the fitness issues of Sam Nombe, who has a great minutes per goal ratio but has only featured 12 times this season (six as sub) and scored six in the league. That he is easily top scorer despite barely featuring speaks volumes for Rotherham’s issues in front of goal. Nombe will hope to feature against the club that sold him, while other former Grecians Cameron Dawson and Zak Jules will also expect to feature.

City will be looking to avenge the 1-0 defeat dished out in South Yorkshire back in September, where Denzel hall scored the only goal of the game. Rotherham’s first match of 24/25 after relegation was at SJP and the scoreline was again 1-0, this time in City’s favour with Caleb Watts scoring. Rotherham have the league head to head edge with 15 wins to City’s 11, nine matches finishing level.

The match officials for this game will be:-

Referee: Paul Howard
Assistant Referees: Samuel Fudge and Steven Plane
Fourth Official : Greg Rollason

Paul Howard took charge of two Exeter City games last season. The 1-0 win on opening game of the season at home to Rotherham, and in March the 2-0 win at home to Mansfield.

Interview with Gary Caldwell

Interview with Johnly Yfeko