City in the eye of the storm as they welcome Seasiders to SJP

Exeter City are back in League One action this Saturday as Blackpool head to St James Park for a 3pm kick-off.

The Grecians will be looking to build on the late point they secured in Tuesday night’s 1-1 draw at Peterborough United, thanks to Millenic Alli’s equaliser.

City sit in 14th place in the league, just one spot above Blackpool, who arrive on the back of four consecutive draws, including an impressive 2-2 result against high-flying Huddersfield Town.

In a similar vein, our team in red is also facing challenges, as Tuesday's game marked a three-match winless streak for the Grecians.

Assistant manager Kevin Nicholson expects a tough test against the Seasiders, managed by the experienced Steve Bruce.

“They’re going to be well-coached and well-drilled,” said Nicholson. “They’ll be on the front foot, and it’s up to us to take the sting out of their play and take the ball away from them.

“We have to do everything better than we did at Peterborough - play quicker and more assertively going forward. It’ll be a clash of styles and formations, which will make it an interesting game. They’re a good team on their day, so we need to be at our best.”

Joel Colwill, who joined Exeter on loan from Cardiff City earlier this month, is also gearing up for the match and could make his home debut. The midfielder impressed in his first start during Tuesday’s draw and is keen to build on the experience.

“I really enjoyed it - it was my first start in League One,” Colwill said. “I thought I did alright. The pace of play is quicker than in League Two, but going away to Peterborough and coming back with a point was a good result.

“Every game in League One is a fight, and we’re expecting that again on Saturday, but we’ll be ready. I’m really looking forward to playing in front of the fans. I was at the Oxford United match, and the atmosphere was bouncing. Hopefully, it’ll be the same on Saturday.”

The last time Exeter and Blackpool met, it was heartbreak for the Grecians. A 2-1 defeat at Bloomfield Road in September saw City equalise late on through Ed Francis’ stunning free-kick, only for Blackpool to snatch a winner in the dying moments.

Now, with the passionate St James Park crowd behind them, can City weather the Seasiders’ storm?