Just recently got back from the game. As ottery st mary said, a win is a win, but I'd have to say that 3-1 rather flattered us considering how we played during the first half. Exeter could well have scored four goals with more luck. Equally though, we could have had a few more. It was just one of those games. A one goal win would have been fair, in my opinion - we deserved it, but not by very much.
The first goal was really excellent, Paul Wooton latched onto a long ball down the left, took it inside, then put it across the face of goal for Holmes to turn in skilfully. The second goal probably looked good in the highlights, but to be honest the Exeter defence let McGoldrick run through them. It may well have been the threat of Stern John nearby that gave the space for the goal, as his passing and link up with Lallana and McGoldrick once SJ came on really opened up Exeter's defence. I didn't see the third goal too well, as it was down the other end from us, but I would suspect it was just a case of failure to clear the ball away. Our final goal was a penalty - I personally wasn't certain it was one, as I though the Exeter player might have got the ball, but the defence didn't complain much. There was a disagreement between Drew Surman and McGoldrick over who should take the penalty, but DMG put it away well, right down the middle.
Player Ratings:
Bialkowski: 6 - Dodgy at times, there was a massive scare when Perry tried to pass the ball back to him, but Bart had come out for it right at the start of the match. Did well to recover, but lack of communication with the defenced was a concern. Also did some juggling and ball dropping, but made good saves well called upon and fairly good with corners.
James: 5 - Occasionally good going forwards, but positionally poor enough that he was getting caught out by League Two players. Not Championship ready.
Perry: 6 - Again, a worrying lack of communication with the goalkeeper. Did what he needed to do, and not often caught out, but it would have be nice to see Perry head the ball to a Saints player at some point.
Schneiderlin: 5 - Clearly not a centre back, although he was adequate there if nothing more. Nearly absent in midfield in the second half. needs to work harder to get himself involved in the game.
Surman: 7 - Good while defending, linked up well with Holmes down the left going forward.
Wooton: 6 - Reasonable as a midfielder in the first half, and solid alongside Perry at the back in the second.
Gillett: 6 - Unremarkable. I really can't remember him doing anything good or bad all night.
Thompson: 6 - Like Gillett, played a part but not a lot to say about him.
Holmes: 8 - Excellent. Stayed very wide all night, providing somewhere to pass to into space if the midfield became stagnated. Pacy and tricky, Exeter's right back could not handle him. Crossing could be slightly better, but his goal was really excellent, and he ought to have scored again after being put through by a delightful Lallana pass.
Lallana: 7 - A bit absent in the first half, but good in linking up once SJ came on. Played one pass that should have led to a goal.
McGoldrick: 8 - Gets points for the goals, but didn't contribute that much else in his forward position. Probably better out on the wing for now.
John: 8 - His ability to hold the ball up and distribute it out wide is exactly what we need. Stern should start up front every match he's available, as long as we have the self control to keep the ball on the ground rather than hoof it when he's on, Stern will help create and score goals.
Man Of The Match - Lee Holmes
Exeter were surprisingly good, and they'll have no trouble staying in League Two this season (although it's obviously going to be a challenge for anyone except Luton, Bournemouth and Rotherham to go down). In the first half, their passing and movement was high class, and they out pretty-footballed us - we were chasing shadows for at least 20 minutes. Stern John coming on changed the game, but we did rather worryingly resort to hoofball for much of the second half. In short, if we play like that against Birmingham at the weekend, we may well get absolutely killed.
PS: Did anyone understand that counting chant Exeter were singing? "You're not twenty-six, you're not twenty-six, you're not twenty-, you're not twenty-, you're not twenty-six. You're not twenty-seven..." Bizarre.
