The Grecians extended their unbeaten run to five matches with a 1-1 draw away at Rotherham United.
The Millers took the lead at the death of the first half when Reece James followed up Mallik Wilks' saved shot to finish, however it was the City academy graduate Alex Hartridge who equalised, sending a half-volley home 10 minutes after the restart. Both sides had chances and Ed Turns made a vital clearance off the line, but neither could find a winner as the match finished with a point apiece.
Gary Caldwell made just one change from the side that beat Mansfield 2-0 on Tuesday, as he was forced into a change with Ben Purrington ruled out through illness. Central midfielder Joel Colwill replaced the defender, which resulted in a tactical shift and Pat Jones starting and left wing-back at the New York Stadium.
First half
After a quiet opening few minutes - during which City were spun around to face their own fans and the sun - it was Rotherham who created the game’s first opportunity. With Exeter struggling to clear their lines, a cross from the right found Sam Nombe in the middle, but he directed his header off target.
The Grecians responded positively though, with a driving run from Josh Magennis gaining territory before Pat Jones cut in from the left and delivered a cross. His ball found Levi Colwill in the centre, but his flying connection sent the shot wide.
City's pressure soon won a corner, and Ryan Trevitt’s curling delivery looped over the goalkeeper towards Angus MacDonald at the back post. The defender managed to prod the ball onto the post, though he couldn’t generate enough power to beat the keeper.
Continuing to press high, Exeter nearly found the breakthrough in the 22nd minute. A slick interchange between Magennis and Jack McMillan created space inside the penalty area, with the Scotsman cutting the ball back for Trevitt. The midfielder beat the keeper, but Hakeem Odoffin was on hand to clear off the line.
Rotherham immediately countered down the other end, and a fortunate deflection appeared to send Nombe through on goal. However, a combination of Joe Whitworth and Alex Hartridge managed to block his effort, keeping the frantic opening stages goalless.
From Exeter’s perspective, the game began to slow, allowing the hosts to create several half-chances as the first half wore on. The best of these came from Wilks, whose bullet header was deflected out for a corner, before Liam Kelly fired the resulting loose ball well over the bar.
Rotherham’s pressure steadily built, and just on the stroke of half-time, they found the breakthrough. Wilks’ shot was parried by Whitworth, but only into the path of Reece James, who reacted quickest to smash the rebound into the net for 1-0. A frustrating setback for City, who could justifiably feel hard done by given the balance of play.
Second half
The second half began much like the first, with little action at either end until Jones was brought down out wide on the right.
Francis swung in the resulting free-kick, which Turns directed goalwards, and a deflection sent the ball into the path of Alex Hartridge. Striking on the half-volley, the defender fired a superb effort into the ground and past Phillips to bring City level.
The equaliser sparked the game into life, and Rotherham responded immediately. In a frantic spell inside City’s box, Turns had to clear a header off the line before Pelly Mpanzu tested Whitworth with a powerful drive from the edge of the area, which the keeper batted away.
City made a triple substitution in an effort to stem Rotherham’s momentum after the equaliser, but the hosts continued to apply pressure.
In the 70th minute, Palace loanee Whitworth was called into action again, punching away a James corner that looked destined for the net. Moments later, Joe Powell tested him with a low-driven effort from the edge of the box, but the young keeper reacted sharply to hold onto the shot.
As the game settled following the changes, City began to push forward once more.
With ten minutes to play, Magennis found himself with a golden opportunity to put the Grecians ahead. Yogane burst down the wing and whipped a cross to the front post, where the Northern Irishman met it with a powerful header - but frustratingly, he sent it well wide of the target.
Yogane tried an effort himself four minutes later but his curler only went straight into the hands of Phillips, before the game became increasingly stretched in the final minutes.
Both teams sent high balls into their opponents boxes but none fell quite right, and it finished 1-1 in South Yorkshire.
A solid point for City away against a team who were a Championship side just 12 months ago, as the Grecians made it now five unbeaten as they head into a rare full week off before another long journey next week to Lincoln.
Rotherham United: Phillips, Rafferty, Kelly, James, Powell (Sibley, 87'), Nombe, Wilks, McWilliams (Kayode, 75'), Odoffin, Humphreys, Mpanzu.
Substitutes not used: Dawson (GK), Clarke-Harris, Green, Holmes, Duncan.
Goal: James 45'
Exeter City: Whitworth, McMillan, Turns, MacDonald, Hartridge, Jones (Niskanen, 64'), Francis (Watts, 64'), Colwill (Aitchison 79'), Trevitt, Mitchell (Yogane, 64'), Magennis.
Substitutes not used: Woods, Cole, Cox.
Goals: Hartridge 56'
Yellow card: Watts 70'
Attendance: 8438 (482 away)