Painting St Andrew’s red as Grecians mean business

Exeter City are preparing for a challenging test this Saturday as they travel to St Andrew’s for a 3pm kick-off against league leaders Birmingham City. It’s City’s first visit to the ground since 1999, and they’ll be looking to make history against a side unbeaten at home this season.

Birmingham, who sit two points clear at the top with two games in hand, are eyeing an immediate return to the Championship. Meanwhile, Exeter head into the fixture with confidence boosted by a superb 3-1 FA Cup victory over Oxford United last weekend.

Speaking ahead of the game, Grecians manager Gary Caldwell acknowledged the difficulty of the task but remained upbeat: “It’s another huge challenge. But we believe at our very best we can beat them.”

Exeter have faced Birmingham twice already this season, including a narrow 2-1 defeat in the Vertu Trophy last month. That game saw Pierce Sweeney score directly from a corner to cancel out Luke Harris’s opener before a second-half strike from Keshi Anderson sealed the win for the Blues.

Reflecting on their previous encounters, goalkeeper Joe Whitworth emphasised the team’s fearless mindset: “We are playing a great team, but we want to show the best version of ourselves. The second game against them showed how we’ve grown - we got into better areas and created more opportunities. Now it’s about learning from those matches and believing we can win.”

In other news, Exeter City have made headlines with two key developments ahead of their trip to St Andrew’s. The club has secured an extension for midfielder Kevin McDonald, whose experience and influence have been invaluable since his arrival in November.

McDonald has made seven appearances for the Grecians, playing a pivotal role in their victories at Burton Albion and against Bristol Rovers. Manager Gary Caldwell praised his leadership, particularly in mentoring younger midfielders like Jake Richards:
“We brought him in to mentor our younger midfielders, and Jake Richards in particular and Jake has had his best spell at the club since Kev has been with us. When called upon to play we have won both matches that Kev has started, so he’s still got a lot to offer as a player.”

Meanwhile, the club has confirmed that defender Tristan Crama has been recalled by Premier League side Brentford after an impressive stint in Devon. Crama’s contributions, including four goals and nine clean sheets in 26 appearances, have made him a fan favourite, and his development at Exeter further strengthens the club's reputation for nurturing talent. Caldwell expressed both disappointment at his departure and pride in his progress, wishing Crama the best for his future career.

For fans making the trip, St Andrew’s is well-served by transport links, including direct trains from Exeter St David’s to Birmingham New Street, taking around two and a half hours. From there, it’s a 20-minute walk to the ground or a short taxi ride costing roughly £6–£8.

Exeter will take to the pitch in their iconic red-and-white stripes, hoping to upset the odds and build on their recent form. With Birmingham’s formidable record at home, it’s a tall order - but football has a funny way of rewarding the bold. Could Saturday be the day the Grecians turn the Blues red-faced? Only time will tell.