Three goals in the final 20 minutes saw the Grecians overturn Bristol Rovers’ opener to claim a 3-1 victory in the Westcountry Derby at SJP.
After a first half in which City created plenty of chances but failed to convert, the Gas took the lead just before the hour mark when Joe Whitworth parried a shot into the path of a Rovers striker, who capitalised to score.
A double substitution steadied the Grecians as the visitors began to dominate, and Jack Fitzwater’s first goal for the club brought the game level, heading home from a well-delivered corner.
Momentum swung in City’s favor, and a match-winning cameo from 17-year-old Jake Richards sealed all three points. Coming off the bench, Richards first set up Millenic Alli for his second goal in as many games to put City ahead, before securing the victory himself with a composed finish deep into stoppage time.
For this Boxing Day clash, Gary Caldwell made two enforced changes to his lineup from Saturday's win against Burton. Tristan Crama and Jack Aitchison both dropped out of the squad completely with injury, with Caleb Watts and Jack Fitzwater replacing them in the eleven. This forced a tactical shift, with Niskanen moving further up the pitch and Mitchell starting at wing-back.
First half
The Grecians opened the match on the front foot and should have gone ahead just four minutes in.
Following his impressive display on the wing against Burton, Millenic Alli picked up where he left off, whipping in a superb cross to the back post. Ilmari Niskanen rose to meet it, but his header clipped the side netting, momentarily deceiving some home supporters into thinking it had gone in.
With City dictating much of the early play, Rovers would've been disappointed not to have taken the lead after capitalising on a rare lapse. Ed Francis’ slip gifted Promise Omochere a chance to break into the box, and he squared the ball into the danger area. Tracking back, Ryan Woods’ outstanding sliding block saved the Grecians from falling behind.
Far from rattled though, City quickly regained their composure. When Watts found an opening in midfield, he surged forward and picked out Alli in space on the wing. The winger delivered a sharp low cross, and it seemed certain Josh Magennis would open the scoring, only for a last-ditch block from the Rovers defence to deny him.
Ramping up the pressure, City went even closer just past the 20 minute mark. Space opened up for Francis to strike 25 yards from goal, and his low drive cut through everyone before rebounding off the post. The Rovers defence then cleared for a corner, which caused even more havoc in the box.
Woods’ low cross went towards Magennis, his effort was cleared only as far as Alli who had an overhead kick blocked, before Francis tried again and then Niskanen shot just over as City pummelled the Gas goal.
Rovers kept reminding City of their danger though, as just minutes later Shaq Forde’s shot was deflected out for a corner, but Joe Whitworth comfortably claimed.
The match and atmosphere inside St James Park quelled as the half reached it's end, with a midfield battle resulting in few chances as half ended goalless.
Second half
The midfield battle that had characterised the closing stages of the first half resumed after the break, as neither team managed to carve out any meaningful chances under the lingering mist at SJP.
However, the tempo of the match shifted dramatically in the 58th minute when Rovers appeared to have broken the deadlock. A spell of slick, incisive play saw the visitors work their way into City’s box. Whitworth did well to block the initial effort, but the subsequent cross was headed into the net by Isaac Hutchinson - only for the linesman’s flag to cut celebrations short.
The disallowed goal served as a prelude to what followed just three minutes later. Breaking into the penalty area with purpose, Forde unleashed a low shot that Whitworth, only for the rebound to settle perfectly for Promise Omochere, who tucked home for 1-0.
Whitworth had to be at his very best to keep City in the game after that goal, as Rovers piled forward hoping to quickly double their lead. A superb diving save from Forde’s shot was followed up by the Palace loanee tipping James Wilson’s header from the resulting corner just over.
A double substitution from Caldwell stabilised City, and the Grecians built back up the pitch before getting a crucial corner.
Francis delivered a precise ball to the back post, where Fitzwater rose above the Rovers defense to nod home, notching his first goal since 2022 and bringing the scores level.
Just like the Gas after their goal, momentum swung in City’s favour, but unlike the visitors, City made them pay.
Substitute Jake Richards drove the ball up the pitch and played a one-two with Niskanen, before turning into the area. The 17-year-old looked up and picked out Alli perfectly in the box, and the forward took a quick touch to find space and fired past the keeper to put City 2-1 up!
This game wasn’t done yet though, and the Gas made a triple substitution to try and force their way back into the contest. One of those changes, Gatlin O’Donkor, forced Whitworth into possibly the save of the season. With the ball bouncing around City’s penalty area, the Gas man thumped the ball on target, but with a strong right hand the keeper turned it round the post.
More drama was to come though, as in the dying seconds of added time, City sealed the game with a third. Rovers committed more men forward in search of an equaliser, but Kamari Doyle stole the ball 10 yards from the half-way line.
The Brighton loanee sprinted forward and shot from the corner of the box, and while the keeper saved it he parried straight to Jake Richards, who fired hard and low into the net for his first League One goal to seal all three points!
After not coming from behind all season so far, twice in five days City have claimed all three points from 1-0 down as they make it back-to-back wins in the league. You reds.
Feel a need for more SJP action? Well fear not, as the Grecians are back at home on Sunday as they host Crawley Town. Get your tickets now!
Exeter City: Whitworth, Watts (Harper, 76'), McMillan, Fitzwater, Francis, Mitchell (Doyle, 67'), Woods (Purrington, 90+2'), McDonald (J. Richards, 67'), Niskanen, Alli, Magennis (C).
Substitutes not used: MacDonald (GK), Cox, Bird.
Goals: Fitzwater 72', Alli 78', J. Richards 90+6'
Yellow card: McDonald 44'
Bristol Rovers: Griffiths, Senior (Sinclair, 73'), Wilson (C), Mola, Omochere (Martin, 82'), Thomas (Moore, 73'), Taylor, Hutchinson, Conteh, Forde (McCormick, 82'), Lindsay (O'Donkor, 82').
Substitutes not used: Sotirious, Garrett.
Goal: Omochere 61'
Yellow card: Mola 29'
Attendance: 8,192 (1,042 away)