Despite a red card in both the dugout and on the pitch, Exeter City held firm in a goalless draw against Lincoln City at St James Park.
The visitors created the better opportunities throughout, but a series of fine saves from Joe Whitworth ensured the Grecians remained level.
In the dying stages, first-team coach David Perkins was dismissed for delaying a Lincoln throw-in, before Ryan Woods saw red for a second yellow card while trying to halt a counter-attack. Down to ten men, City showed resilience to claim a hard-fought point.
With three players away on international duty, Gary Caldwell adjusted his lineup from last week's 1-0 victory over Charlton, making two changes at wing-back. Caleb Watts earned his first league start of the season on the right, while Vincent Harper slotted in on the left. Jack McMillan shifted into midfield, with Amani and Jake Richards named among the substitutes.
First half
The Grecians began the opening stages on top as they were turned round by the Imps and forced to shoot towards the Big Bank.
Ed Francis attempted a Blackpool-esque free-kick, and Caleb Watts dragged a shot wide, though no efforts on target materialised until the 11th minute, falling to the visitors.
Jack Moylan found a pocket of space just outside the penalty area, but his low shot was comfortably gathered by Joe Whitworth.
City continued to control possession, but Lincoln threatened on the break. In the 17th minute, the Imps countered after winning the ball past the halfway line. Ethan Hamilton set up Moylan once again, but his shot flew into the away end.
The visitors' chances kept coming, with Moylan proving the main threat.
A questionable free-kick awarded after Paudie O’Connor slipped gave Moylan an opportunity to test City. His low delivery from the right-back area appeared to be a cross but swerved dangerously toward goal, forcing Whitworth into an impressive save to keep the ball out of reach from an incoming Lincoln attacker.
Two half-chances followed for City as they looked to get back into the fixture, with Ryan Woods shooting into the Big Bank and a tame header from Millenic Alli was held.
Few chances followed as the first half fizzled out with both sides struggling to create meaningful openings.
Second half
Whitworth needed to be sharp early in the second half, reacting quickly during a chaotic pinball in the box after an Imps corner. Although the initial delivery was cleared, the ball fell to Dom Jefferies, whose bouncing shot was headed goalward before being safely collected by the Palace loanee.
Moments later, Ben House was next to try his luck with a first-time effort, but the Crystal Palace loanee once again got down low to deny the forward.
Caldwell responded by injecting fresh energy into his side with a double substitution. The changes nearly paid off immediately, as City created their first meaningful chance of the half.
Woods sprayed a superb ball out to Demetri Mitchell on the left, initiating a slick passing exchange with Francis and Aitchison. The move ended with Mitchell’s shot being deflected out for a corner.
Lincoln nearly broke the deadlock in the 70th minute, capitalizing on another corner. Whitworth did well to palm away Erahahon’s dangerous delivery, but the ball ricocheted chaotically around the box without falling cleanly to anyone in white. Eventually, Woods intervened to clear the danger with a long ball upfield.
Minutes later, the Imps threatened again through Ben House. Meeting a drilled first-time cross from Jefferies, the forward’s powerful header sailed narrowly over the bar, leaving the home crowd breathing a collective sigh of relief.
With just six minutes remaining and the game still deadlocked, Lincoln squandered a golden opportunity. After City lost possession in midfield, the Imps surged forward, eventually finding Jovon Makama unmarked in the penalty area. However, the forward blazed his shot high and wide, much to the relief of the home crowd.
The Grecians, aware of Lincoln's counter-attacking threat, tried to slow the tempo from the technical area, but it backfired when David Perkins delayed returning the ball for a quick throw. The referee deemed it excessive and issued the assistant coach a red card, his first since being a player December 2021.
Just minutes later, City were dealt another blow - this time on the pitch. Ryan Woods, stopping a dangerous counter-attack, picked up his second yellow card of the match, leaving the Grecians to finish the game with ten men.
Despite being a man down, City nearly snatched a late winner. Ed McMillan connected with Francis’ free-kick, nodding the ball back into the six-yard box, but the Lincoln keeper was alert to extinguish the danger.
In a largely uneventful contest under the watchful eye of the Sky Sports cameras, the Grecians will likely be content with a point.
City are back on the road next weekend, travelling to Wrexham before returning to SJP on November 26th for the visit of Birmingham City. Get your tickets here!
Exeter City: Whitworth, Watts (Bird, 56'), Sweeney (C), Crama, Purrington, Harper (Mitchell, 56'), McMillan, Woods, Francis, Aitchison (Fitzwater, 90+1'), Alli.
Substitutes not used: MacDonald (GK), Cox, A. Richards, J. Richards.
Yellow card: Woods 66', Sweeney 72'
Red card: David Perkins 85', Woods 89'
Lincoln City: Wickens, Darikwa, Montsma, Cadamarteri (Makama, 63'), Hamilton (McKiernan, 90+2'), McGrandles, O'Connor (Erhahon, 46'), Jefferies, House (Duffy, 78'), Roughan, Moylan.
Substitutes not used: Pardington (GK), Street, Okoro.
Attendance: 5950 (216 away)