💬 Ben Seymour: "Qualification is the main aim."

Exeter City striker Ben Seymour says his side are relishing the opportunity to qualify for the next stage of the EFL Trophy when they travel to Swindon Town on Tuesday.

A win and the County Ground should seal a passage to the knockout rounds for the Grecians, and City’s number nine believes the side have what it takes.

“We’re looking forward to it and we’re going there to get the win, which should lead us to qualifying from the group,” he said.

“We know Swindon are a good team having got promoted last season and they have a good squad, but we’re only focusing on ourselves.

“Qualification is the main aim and then we can relax in the final group game.”

Seymour is one of several academy products likely to start against the Robins, and the 21-year-old has been full of praise for the squad.

“This year we have great depth in our team even though we had a few boys leave us since last season, but I feel like the youngster that have come in and replaced them have done really well.

“It is testament to the group.”

Tuesday’s game is an opportunity for those players on the fringes of first team starts to stake a claim for a place in the squad, something which Seymour hopes will pay off for him.

“These games – if you haven’t started on the Saturday – give you a platform to show the manager why you deserve to be starting games and prove that you’re ready when needed.”

City are looking to go one better than last season, when they were knocked out of the competition by Portsmouth at the semi-final stage. That game at Fratton Park is one that Seymour has called ‘a career highlight’ despite defeat.

“The Portsmouth game - though I didn’t start –was amazing.

“It was incredible. Looking back I think it’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of. What a shame it was to not get the result in the end.”

Seymour can take inspiration from many of City’s former academy products, some of whom’s first professional appearances came in the EFL Trophy, but none more so than new Aston Villa signing Ollie Watkins, who ripped Liverpool apart in the club’s 7-2 win over Liverpool on Sunday night.

“It was incredible to watch. Scoring a hat trick against probably the Premier League’s best centre halves in Gomez and Van Dijk – what a feeling that must be. “It is really inspirational. People like myself look up to him and hopefully we can follow in his footsteps.”