Exetervs.Peterborough

Both sides currently sit in mid-table after both winning and losing in their opening two league games of the new campaign.

Match preview

After a very encouraging start, Exeter suffered a disappointing few days in the aftermath of their opening-day 1-0 win over recently-relegated Rotherham United.

Walsall dumped them out of the EFL Cup on penalties in the first round, before Gary Caldwell's men succumbed to another defeat on the road last weekend, losing 2-1 at Northampton Town.

With no chance of a repeat of their journey to the fourth round of the EFL Cup from last season, building on a 13th-placed finish with another solid campaign will be the focus.

Improving home form will be critical to steering clear of the drop zone, as 23 home league games last season yielded just 29 points, and a league-low 17 goals.

After losing captain Will Aimson to Wigan Athletic on the eve of the season, Brentford loanee Tristan Crama has filled his boots excellently so far and could be key to improving that record, keeping a clean sheet on debut, and scoring against Northampton a week ago.

Visitors Peterborough have made a similar start, just the other way around, as they recovered from an opening day defeat to Huddersfield Town by beating Shrewsbury Town 4-1 last weekend.

Kwame Poku's double turned the game on its head in favour of Posh, before a late brace from Joel Randall added some gloss to the scoreline, moving them into 11th with the healthy margin of victory rectifying their goal difference.

Like Exeter though, Peterborough also suffered first-round EFL Cup elimination, losing at Championship outfit Oxford United, but they will start their defence of the EFL Trophy in two weeks' time against Gillingham.

Manager Darren Ferguson has won promotion four times across his three previous stints in charge, and making it five is the aim this season, after falling narrowly short in the playoffs last season.

Exeter City League One form:

Exeter City form (all competitions):

Peterborough United League One form:

Peterborough United form (all competitions):

Team News

Exeter will remain without Sonny Cox in the engine room, Jay Bird and Yanic Wildschut in attack, as well as left-sided Demetri Mitchell, who have all missed the start of the new season.

Mitchell's understudy Vincent Harper was also absent last weekend, meaning youngster Millenic Alli was given a start in an otherwise unchanged side, which could line up again here.

After their opening-day defeat, Ferguson dropped Chris Conn-Clarke and Ricky-Jade Jones in attack, and Peterborough proceeded to score four at Shrewsbury, so any personnel changes up top are unlikely.

Losing Harrison Burrows was a big blow in pre-season, and his replacement Jack Sparkes was forced off before half time in the win last weekend, so James Dornelly may come in to replace him.

Apart from that forced change, Ferguson should stick with the same group that started at the New Meadow, with Mahamadou Susoho, Hector Kyprianou, George Nevett and Ryan de Havilland all still out injured.

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Whitworth; Niskanen, Sweeney, Crama, Yfeko; Francis, McMillan; Cole, Aitchison, Alli; Magennis

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Steer; Curtis, Fernandez, Wallin, Dornelly; O'Brien-Brady, Collins; Poku, Randall, Odoh; Mothersille

We say: Exeter City 1-2 Peterborough United

After showing what they are capable of in thumping Shrewsbury last weekend, Peterborough put a poor first week behind them and now look capable of kicking on in their search for promotion.

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