What’s next for Exeter City? The Grecians look to return from heavy FA Cup defeat

Exeter City’s FA Cup journey ended in bruising fashion with a 10-1 defeat away to Manchester City, but attention is already turning to what comes next for the Grecians.

The third-round tie at the Etihad was always a daunting task against the eight-time Premier League champions, and the scoreline underlined the gulf in resources and experience between the two sides. 

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However, Exeter manager Gary Caldwell has been clear that the match should not define the club’s season.

“We aren’t going to be defined by that,” Caldwell said after the game. “But we do have to learn from it.”

Despite conceding heavily, Caldwell pointed to the support from the travelling fans and a late positive moment when teenager George Birch scored Exeter’s consolation goal.

“I’ve never celebrated a goal at 9-0 down the way I celebrated that,” he said, adding that Birch “could have a big future” at the club.

The manager also praised the supporters who made the trip north. “Remarkable,” he said. “They stayed with us and clapped us at the end when it was a really humbling defeat.”

Season so far

Away from the cup, Exeter’s Sky Bet League One campaign has been mixed but competitive. 

The Grecians have shown they can challenge strong opposition, with a 2-0 derby victory over Devon rivals Plymouth Argyle in October and a recent 1-0 league win over Luton Town on New Year’s Day, however both these victories were at home.

St James Park has proved a happy hunting ground this season, with Exeter losing only three of their eleven home games this season, placing 10th in the league for home form.

ABOVE: A recent home victory against Luton proved Exeter's ability to beat top sides (Image: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)

It is on their travels that the Grecians have struggled, winning just three of their thirteen league games away from home, with only six teams with worse away records.

Caldwell has repeatedly stressed development and resilience as priorities, particularly given Exeter’s reliance on academy players and limited budget compared with many of their rivals.

The FA Cup run, while short-lived, delivered a financial boost and invaluable experience for younger players, even if the final result was painful.

Fans remain supportive

Among supporters, reaction has ranged from disappointment at the scoreline to pride in the occasion and the club’s journey.

One fan described the trip as a “good day out” despite the result, while another said the goal late on “gave everyone something to smile about”.

Even high-profile Manchester City supporter Liam Gallagher commented positively, calling Exeter “a top team” and praising the goal.

Focus returns to the league

With cup commitments now over, Exeter’s full focus returns to League One, where consistency will be key in the second half of the season.

Caldwell has acknowledged mistakes made during the Manchester City match, saying: “At any level you play at, you can’t concede goals like that.”

But he has also framed the experience as part of a longer-term process, particularly for a squad built around youth and development.

For Exeter City, the challenge now is to put the FA Cup disappointment behind them quickly before next Saturday’s visit of out-of-form Stevenage.

Grecians will hope that lessons learned on a high-profile stage will translate into stronger performances where it matters most, back in the league.