City suffered a first home defeat under Gary Caldwell as a strong Ipswich Town side recorded a 2-0 victory.
A goal in each half from Freddie Ladapo and Marcus Harness ensured the Tractor Boys travelled back to Suffolk withg three points, with City off thr boil against one of the league favourites.
After last games amazing comeback victory over Peterborough United, Gary made only the one change with Harry Kite coming in to replace Matt Jay, with ten academy graduates named in the squad.
It was a slow start from the Grecians as Ipswich as the away side grabbed control of the early pace, as they forced an absolutely outrageous save from Jamal Blackman. A point-blank shot from Marcus Harness was denied by City's man between the posts. While he stopped that one, there was little he could do just a minute later as Harness's ball found Ladapo at close range to give Ipswich the lead.
After the goal, Ipswich were starting to put a lot of pressure on The Grecians back line, with at some points City having all eleven players behind the ball. Eventually, they got the ball away from their own penalty area and had their first chance of the game. Marauding wing back Jake Caprice did a couple of his trademark step overs down the right-hand side and whipped a ball into the box only for Ipswich to head it behind for a corner. The resulting corner from Jevani Brown found Pierce Sweeney at the back post who at the second attempt found Alex Hartridge on the spin but his shot on target was put behind the post by Christian Walton.
After another quiet opening ten minutes of the second half, it was The Tractor Boys who had the first proper effort on goal, and it was Wes Burns who found space on the edge of the area. Blackman was able to match the effort with another fantastic save to tip the ball over the bar. Seconds later and it was another unbelievable save from Blackman, just about keeping The Grecians in the game, and it was Ladapo the goal scorer going close once again.
With just over 67 minutes played Ipswich grabbed their second goal of the game, this time it was Marcus Harness getting on the scoresheet following his first half assist. A Leif Davis corner found the unmarked head of Harness who was able to nod the ball past Blackman.
With all to play for in the final moments, City went all out on the attack but with the chances on goal, City were unable to get back into the game.
The next game for City is an all League One FA Cup clash away to Oxford United on Saturday November 26th.
Exeter City: Blackman, Caprice, Key (Diabate), Sweeney ©, Hartridge, Sparkes (Jay), Dieng, Collins, Kite (Nombe), Brown, Stansfield
Subs not used: Lee, Grounds, Beardmore, Chauke
Ipswich Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Burns (Jackson), Humphreys, Morsy ©, Davis (Vincent-Young), Chaplin (Edwards), Harness, Ladapo (Ahadme)
Subs not used: Hladky, Edmunson, Camara,
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 7232 (1208 away)