Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell hailed the team spirit that is clearly evident within his Grecians side after producing the best performance under his reign to beat Barnsley. City were so dominant in the first 45 minutes away to Barnsley that the 2-0 lead they had flattered the promotion-chasing side who were unbeaten in 11.
Jack Aitchison’s first goal since the opening day of the season put City ahead on 18 minutes. The Scot then turned provider on the half hour to lay the ball off to Reece Cole who beautifully finished from the edge of the area.
It was a rearguard action after the break as the Tykes threw the kitchen sink at the Grecians, but it took until the 87 th for them to pull one back when Mael de Gevigney headed home from close range. Exeter though hung on for a richly deserved 2-1 victory, which made it back-to-back wins for the first time since August.
Read More – Exeter City produce ‘best 45 minutes’ as they stun in win at Barnsley
Read More – ‘Fantastic’ Jack Aitchison gets the goal his Exeter City performances deserve
Having spent two months hovering just outside the relegation zone, and having dropped into it on New Year’s Day, the victory took City up to the lofty heights of 14 th placed – where they finished in League One last season. The gap to the relegation zone is only six points, but any immediate relegation fears have been eased.
Almost certainly any other club in the football league would have pulled the trigger on Caldwell when City were on their 13 game run without a victory that was the worst run in 28 years, which included a worst league defeat in 65 years. But the board held their nerve and kept faith with the manager, which is starting to pay off.
The ten points from the last six games would put City ninth in the form table. Over the last ten games, City are tenth, and have only conceded ten goals in the last ten games. The players never lost faith in the manager, and after the win at Barnsley, took their customary celebratory picture after a win in front of the away fans who travelled to Oakwell.
