FOUR-MIDABLE! That’ll be what the tabloid papers screech about Boro’. The men from the Lamex are tottering along in a rather dashing manner at the moment. A flush of four wins on the spin leaves us in fine fettle; ninth place if you please. It’s as high as we’ve been so far this term, first and last being there after our Newport trip in December. Now, to back up the recent gains. It’s as enticing an excursion as South Wales can be seen to be – although our Devon hosts aren’t likely to be as hospitable. There’s no £6 toll fee, mind you. So, every cloud…
Exeter lie in wait for Stevenage this weekend. If we’re to beware of Greeks bearing gifts, we shudder to think what we’re supposed to make of Grecians not bearing gifts. Paul Tisdale’s side are worth paying attention to, no matter how much you don’t want to. Just two weeks before we made the hop across the Severn to reunite with G-Wezzle, Exeter were sitting bottom of the division. Just two weeks before now, Exeter were sixth. A stunning run of results blew the side up the table with gusto and dust in the faces of those, like us, left behind.
Exeter City v Stevenage: That Devon-ties Show…
Align and Advance, Advance and Attack; Attack and Destroy. If it’s a good enough plan for the Daleks, it’s good enough for us too. Of course, our task is neither simple nor straightforward. A brief wobble of late doesn’t hide the fact that Exeter are set to test us. They usually do. Our head-to-head over the years kinda proves that. This is our 20th meeting, and so far we have just five wins to our name. Exeter, meanwhile, have won seven; the same amount as the pair of us have drawn. But the bottom line remains – we haven’t beaten them since 2014.
At Sid James’ Park, our record is worse. The only Boro’ player to ever score a winning goal at their gaff was Barry Laker in a 2005 FA Cup tie. Mind you, let’s throw in some positives ferchrissakes! Exeter’s late collapse at Notts County during the week is a start. And then there’s the Grecians less than impressive form indoors. Sure, away from home, they’re pretty damn good. On their own turf, however, they’ve lost seven out of 13. It does mask the fact their defence is pretty mean full stop – so Matt Godden may need some fine lock-picking skills.
Win or lose, we can all agree that nothing is going to be decided this far out from the end of term. If we can make it five successive victories, we’ll be right in the promotion mix ahead of our trip to Crewe next week. If the run ends, however, the table suggests we will suffer minimal damage – maybe a place, maybe two. It feels like one of those games with ‘score draw’ etched onto its face in biro after falling asleep among pen-armed friends. Last season’s madness aside, draws haven’t been our bag this season. So, it’s going one way or t’other.
Right?
* No FIFA 17 verdict again. Sorry Not Sorry.
Exeter City v Stevenage: Will it follow in the path of these League Two stats from Kick Off:
BoroGuide’s Exeter City club profile – that feeling when you click through…
