Exeter Draw With Saints

Exeter City gained a credible point at home to Southampton at St. James Park.

Matt Taylor headed in from a corner four minutes after the interval to give the Grecians a share of the spoils. Adam Lallana had given the Saints an early lead.

Dan Seaborne made a quick return to Devon, and his new side had the better of the first half. Alan Pardew`s men looked dangerous going forward, and star striker Ricky Lambert looked set to score inside the box but for a superb block by talisman Rob Edwards. The man who scored the goal that secured City`s return to the football league has enjoyed a fruitful run in the team since the departure of Seaborne. Fears over his lack of pace were allied by an excellent performance in last month`s victory over Leeds, and his experience was instrumental once again on this occasion.

Paul Tisdale`s rallied his players at half time, and the Grecian faithful didn`t have to wait long for a response. Four minutes into the second period, Taylor towering header at the back post turned the match. The Saints weren`t the force they were in the first half, and should have been behind when Adam Stansfield squared to Barry Corr who had a virtual open goal. However, he failed to get the ball out of his feet and the chance was gone.

Scott Golbourne put some testing balls into the box as the home side looked to score a winner. Four minutes were added on to the standard ninety, and City nearly repeated the heroics of last week with a late goal. However, Bertie Cozic was denied by the post with a superb curled shot.

In the end a point gained for City in their bid to beat the drop. An honourable mention to Joe Burnell who made his first start for City today. The referee and the Southampton supporters who (illegally) infiltrated the Big Bank won`t be given such admiration. Next Week, The Grecians will be severely tested at Milwall, who have a stellar home record. After that, there will be the opportunity for City to gain some breathing space at the bottom of League 1 if they put in the kind of performance they did today, and against Leeds.