Next Up: Exeter City vs AFC Wimbledon

Billed as a “must win” due to City’s off-field issues, Gary Caldwell and his City squad certainly got the memo in trouncing Wycombe 4-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday and, while an urgent call is being placed to Tony Cascarino to do the 3rd round draw, preparations begin in earnest for a tough league test against a side that has so far outperformed expectations. Caldwell will be relieved that his side came through Saturday without any further additions to the injury list, with recent returnees Johnly Yfeko and Jake Doyle-Hayes coming through unscathed. Tuesday may be too soon for Reece Cole to return, while Danny Andrew was again missing against Wycombe. With December being a particularly busy month, Caldwell may look to make a few changes although league form is also vital to City’s progress and therefore changes may be kept to a minimum.

Returning to the third tier since swapping places with City in 21/22, AFC Wimbledon have confounded the pundits who predicted a season of struggle, although league form has taken a bit of a dip of late with no victories since a 2-1 win in Cornwall in mid-October. Johnnie Jackson’s side has had the benefit of a blank weekend, however, after a shock 0-2 reverse at home to Gateshead in the first round of the FA Cup. Top league scorer Matty Stevens scored five in the first ten league games but has been out since late September, leaving it to Marcus Browne and Danilo Orsi to carry the goal scoring burden. Midfielder Jake Reeves is in his third spell at the club and, at the age of 32, provides much-needed experience in the midfield.

It has been a decade since the sides last locked horns and, in a season that culminated in promotion, it was the Dons who emerged victorious with all six points. The corresponding fixture just after Christmas in 2015 saw AFC Wimbledon record their first ever points at SJP, winning 2-0 through first half goals from Tom Elliott and Lyle Taylor. That added to a 2-1 win at their former home of Kingsmeadow, Francombe and Azeez sandwching a goal from Ryan Harley. As a result they have edged ahead of City in the league head to head with four wins to City’s three, one match finishing level.

The match officials for this game will be:-

Referee: Will Finnie
Assistant Referees: David Middleton and Ashley Allen
Fourth Official: Robert Massey-Ellis

Will Finnie is a regular match official at Exeter City games. He took charge of two games last season, the 2-1 home defeat to Peterborough in August 2024, then the 2-1 win away to Barnsley in April. His record last season was 38 games in charge, 115 yellow cards and 5 sending offs.

Interview with Gary Caldwell

Interview with Ethan Brieley