Exeter City will be looking to extend their good run of form at St James Park on Saturday when they face promotion rival Mansfield Town at home.
The Grecians are unbeaten in six League Two matches at St James Park, winning five and drawing one of those games. However, Mansfield Town go into the match on good form having lost just three of their last 22 matches in all competitions.
City boss Paul Tisdale is expecting a tough game and is not surprised by Mansfield's recent form having predicted them to be up challenging at the top of League Two before the season began.
“I am not surprised,” said Tis. “I had them as one of my three to challenge for the top in my prediction at the start of the year.
“They are a strong side and they are consistent. Their manager knows exactly what he is doing. They have got a team that is competitive every game and they are hard to play against.”
Meanwhile, Mansfield manager Steve Evans, having beaten Newport County 5-0 on Tuesday night, was full of praise for Exeter. He said: “I have to be saying this in the right way: I think Exeter’s a better team than Newport County, just as a team, but they’ve got totally different attributes.
“Exeter’s a footballing side under a man who I’ve said before I hold in the highest regard of many managers in football (Paul Tisdale).
“It’s no surprise to me that Exeter’s in the shake-up. It won’t be a surprise when they’re in the top three or four at the end.”
TICKETS
The IP Office Stand is sold out for the match against Mansfield Town, meaning there is only standing tickets available in the Thatchers’ Big Bank.
Tickets should still be available to purchase for the Thatchers’ Big Bank on the day, but the club is advising that supporters buy tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
You can do this by clicking on the following link and then you can collect your ticket from the ticket booth in Red Square on matchday.
FOOTBALL v HOMOPHOBIA
Saturday’s match has been designated as the club’s annual Football v Homophobia fixture and a number of initiatives to mark the day have been organized by Exeter City Supporters’ Trust and its One Game One Community Group.
Players from both teams will warm up in Football v Homophobia t-shirts. These will be thrown to the crowd before the start of the game. The players will then walk out for the pre-match line-up behind a Football v Homophobia banner.
MATCHDAY SPONSOR
Thank you to our match sponsor South West Highways Group, our associate match sponsor Exeter College and our match ball sponsor Agency Assistance.
South West Highways Group is a highway service and construction business committed to delivering outstanding highway maintenance services across the South West. You can find out more about SWH Group here.
Exeter College is a tertiary college in the city of Exeter, providing further education for 16 to 18-year-old students, ias well as a range of courses for 14 to 16-year-olds, higher education and adult courses, community education and professional development courses. You can find out more about Exeter College here.
You can find out more about Agency Assistance by clicking here.
BUCKET COLLECTION
The Bucket collection will be for Reverse Rett, and will be led by former Grecian Bertie Cozic, whose daughter suffers with the condition. Your donations will go directly to research which will help to speed treatments and find a cure for Rett Syndrome. Thank you for your donations
GROUND INFO
Redevelopment Work:
The away terrace and the Stagecoach Family Stand will not be open to supporters for Saturday’s game due to the redevelopment work at the club.
All entry for home fans will be via the Stadium Way turnstiles into the IP Office Main Stand or the Thatchers' Big Bank.
There will be no entry possible from the Jungle Path/Well Street side on to the Thatchers' Big Bank.
For more information read the following article.
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
Exeter City Academy’s operation manager Arran Pugh is the main feature interview in Saturday’s matchday programme. He talks about a successful season for the club’s academy which has recently seen some of the under-18s help the club qualify for the knockout stages of the Under-23 Premier League Cup. The under-18s also won their respective division by seven clear points this season and three of the players – Harry Kite, Josh Key and Joel Randall - have recently been offered pro contracts at the club.
Former Matt Gill takes on the first, best and worst quiz as he reflects on his career and time at St James Park. You can pick up a copy of the programme around the ground and in the club shop and reception for just £3.
FAMILY ZONE
The Junior Grecians family zone will be open to its members from 12.30pm on Saturday and then to the general public from 1.30pm. The zone has video consoles, large TV screens, a refreshments stall and table football.
The zone is located in Red Square. For more information on it read the following article.
MASCOTS
Our mascots for today’s game are the following: Harry Blackwell, Dominic Lawrence, Louis Farr, Preston Beedell, Dominic Ozuna-Montero, Matilda Kemmett, Harry Collman and Charlie Roberts.
Read their profiles on page 11 of the matchday programme. If you would like to be a matchday mascot at one of our games contact our operations manager Andy Gillard via email at andy.gillard@ecfc.co.uk.
CLUB SHOP
The club shop will be open from 11am to 5pm on matchdays. The club shop is located in Red Square, at the back of the IP Office Stand.