Hallowe’en howler at home

For the 600 travelling Brentford fans Saturday’s 4-2 victory over the Grecians will be remembered as a six-goal thriller. For City fans it was a Hallowe’en howler in which they cheaply surrendered their undefeated home record stretching back to last February.

If shipping four goals at home was not enough, the defence also gave away two penalties late in the game, and, remarkably, City keeper Paul Jones had recovered just enough composure to save them both, and prevent an historic 6-2 defeat by a team who up to then had not been prolific scorers in their preceding games.

Bees’ boss Andy Scott admitted Saturday's 4-2 win was one of the craziest games he has ever been involved in. Scott said: "It was a mad game. They could have had four goals and we could have had 10. In the first-half, we looked like conceding every time Exeter had the ball, but, after the hour-mark we looked like we'd score every time we had it"

The Bees went in front with their first effort at goal on four minutes. Kevin O'Connor's corner-kick was met by Leon Legge and his header went through Exeter goalkeeper Paul Jones and into the net. Ex-Grecian Gary Alexander had a goal disallowed as Exeter struggled to get going, but Jamie Cureton brought City level after 28 minutes when he latched on to Ryan Harley's pass and finished with style.

But Cureton wasted a golden chance when he blasted high over the bar, which was costly as Brentford hit the City with two quick goals. More shocking defending from Exeter led to the fourth goal. Cureton headed in Richard Logan's cross for Exeter to make it 4-2, while O'Connor and Myles Weston both missed late penalties for the Bees, which were saved.

On Tuesday evening, the Grecians lost 3-0 to Brighton, the runaway league one leaders, away from home. They also returned to Devon having collected four yellow cards and find themselves in 16th place in the table five points of the playoff positions and just three points from the relegation zone. On Saturday it's another long distance away trip, and I suspect a much-needed rest from League action as City face Bury in the FA Cup. Let's hope for better things and perhaps progress in the competition will restore the Grecians to winning ways. Come on you Reds!