Preview: Exeter City vs. Stevenage - prediction, team news, lineups

Both teams have made strong starts to their league seasons, with Exeter sitting second in the table on 10 points, while Stevenage are fifth, also picking up 10 points from their first five matches.

Match preview

Exeter finished 14th in League One last season, but they are currently second in the table, picking up 10 points from their first five matches courtesy of a record of three wins, one draw and one defeat.

Gary Caldwell's side will enter this contest off the back of successive victories, beating Carlisle United 2-0 on August 19 before recording a 2-1 win over Reading on Saturday afternoon.

Exeter's main focus this term will be on the league, but they are present in the second round of the EFL Cup courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Crawley Town in the first round of the competition.

Caldwell's team have managed to make nine new signings this summer, while there have also been a number of departures, so there is a fresh look to the squad this season.

The Grecians are unbeaten in their last nine matches against Stevenage in all competitions, with their last defeat to Tuesday's opponents proving to be a 3-1 reverse in League Two back in April 2018.

Stevenage, meanwhile, will enter the contest off the back of a goalless draw with Portsmouth in League One on Saturday, which moved them onto 10 points from their five games this season and left them in fifth.

The Boro were promoted from League Two last season, and it would be some story if head coach Steve Evans could help them rise into the Championship for the 2024-25 campaign.

Stevenage claimed a scalp in the first round of this season's EFL Cup, beating Championship outfit Watford on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

The Boro have actually won three of their last four matches in the League Cup, but as mentioned, their recent record against Exeter is incredibly poor, securing just one victory versus the Grecians since December 2014.

Stevenage have also been very busy this summer in terms of incomings and outgoings, with Harry Anderson and Louis Thompson among those to arrive, and their start to the campaign has been impressive.

Exeter City EFL Cup form:

W

Exeter City form (all competitions):

Stevenage EFL Cup form:

W

Stevenage form (all competitions):

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Team News

Exeter head coach Caldwell will make changes to the side that started the 2-1 victory over Reading in League One on Saturday afternoon.

Sam Nombe led the line in the last round of the competition, and the 24-year-old is set to earn a recall to the first XI, while Reece Cole should also be among the starters.

Dion Rankine is likely to keep his spot in the side, though, and Caldwell is expected to name a strong team, as he will want to keep the momentum going early in the campaign.

Stevenage head coach Evans, meanwhile, is expected to reward the players who impressed in the last round of the competition against Watford.

The team is expected to be very close to the one that took to the field for the first whistle against the Hornets, meaning that there will be changes from the weekend draw with Portsmouth.

Krisztian Hegyi is likely to get the nod between the sticks for the away side here, but there will be no Jake Forster-Caskey following his red card in the team's last match.

Exeter City possible starting lineup:

Sinisalo; Aimson, Diabate, Hartridge; Sweeney, Trevitt, Cole, Mitchell; Rankine, Nombe, Scott

Stevenage possible starting lineup:

Hegyi; Smith, James-Wildin, N Thompson, Burns, Butler; B Thompson, MacDonald; Freeman; March, Pressley

We say: Exeter City 1-0 Stevenage

This is a match that could swing either way, and it would certainly not be a surprise to see Stevenage progress to the next round of the competition. Exeter will have home advantage, though, and we believe that will help them navigate their way into the third round.

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