Depleted Grecians earn stubborn home draw

Despite missing three key players to international duty, Exeter City battled out a gritty 0-0 draw at home to play-off rivals Lincoln City on Saturday.

The Grecians were unable to call off the game because the third international call-up took place after the EFL deadline to trigger an automatic postponement.

In those testing circumstances, City were forced to defend for long periods and goalkeeper Joe Whitworth was regularly called upon to preserve parity. The best save came when Whitworth brilliantly pawed away a Jack Moylan free-kick that was headed for the far corner.

Lincoln conjured more half-chances after the break but Exeter, who offered little in attack, remained steadfast to secure a fine point, although City did lose Ryan Woods to a late red card.

City manager Gary Caldwell told the club website: "I thought we were the better team in the first half despite not creating too much, but we lost control in the second half and the team fatigued a little bit towards the end. We didn't have the finishers we usually do to try and energise the team.

"But it's another clean sheet and our defence is a real foundation for us. We are really happy with the point and I hope when the players wake up in the morning they feel the same too.

"We had to stand up to a lot today and we did that, and that is the minimum I ask of my players, to try and get that clean sheet to give us the opportunity to win."