Confident 1-0 victory for City

Fans rock as Jay Stansfield debuts

After four games in all competitions without a win, Exeter City were aiming to get back on form, and establish their place in the upper half of the table once again.

Their opponents, Milton Keynes Dons, came to the match from a rousing 4-0 win against Morecambe and were looking to leapfrog City into the top half.

Exeter coach Matt Taylor started with one change from the last league game against Accrington Stanley, with Jonathan Grounds replacing Sam Stubbs.

New signings Jay Stansfield and Harry Smith started on the bench. There were no changes for MK Dons.

The opening 10 minutes was sloppy from both teams, with many wasted balls out of play from both sides.

MK Dons looked shaky at the back with striker Jevani Brown pressurising, but no chances came. The only notable came when goalkeeper Jamal Blackman pressured a Dons attack too soon, who cut into an open area. Luckily for the City defence, no attacker was in sight and the ball easily cleared. 

Exeter's Tim Dieng had the best chance around the 17th minute, mainly due to Jevani Brown's work down the right hand side. His ball into the box fell to Dieng's head, who couldn't quite direct it into the net. 

The first clear goal-scoring chance was created by Sam Nombe and Harry Kite in the 34th minute. Clever, quick passing around the right edge of the box gave Nombe the opportunity to slide the ball into Brown, who was inches away from scoring the first goal, but just couldn't connect.

A couple of minutes later, the Dons had their chance. A long ball from defence bypassed the Exeter defence, leaving two attackers clear in the centre, but a Blackman stunning save from six yards out kept the match goalless.

A good first 45 from City came with no reward. Chances from Nombe, Brown, Sweeney and Diabate could have been capitalised on, but came to nothing.

Three minutes into the second half, Archie Collins traversed his way across the field before laying the ball off to Jack Sparkes, but his stunning shot was saved. 

Harry Kite performed magic on the edge of the box, ghosting past MK Dons midfielders like they were nothing. He played in Josh Key, but the subsequent shot rose over the bar at the last second. Once again, chances came but no finishing touch.

A corner taken by Jevani Brown swung deep to the back post, where it came down perfectly for Exeter defender Cheick Diabate header it with force into the bottom corner. A well-deserved goal from City, 1-0 with 25 minutes to go.

MK Dons never seemed to get back into the game, with Exeter dominating both chances and possession. 

In the 80th minute, Jay Stansfield, on loan from Fulham and announced only a day before made his debut. Stansfield, 19, Exeter born and bred,  in son of Exeter legend Adam Stansfield, who died from cancer aged 31 in 2010. 'Stansfield' is the most popular chant in Exeter's Big Bank. The St James family stand is named in his honour.

The stadium echoed.

Ten minutes later, at final whistle, it did once more. 

It was, in the end, a pretty simple afternoon City, although the 1-0 scoreline didn't accurately represent the control Exeter had on the game, especially in midfield.

Exeter move up to seventh in League One.

Teams:

Exeter City:

Jamal Blackman, Jack Sparkes, Archie Collins, Sam Nombe, Josh Key, Tim Dieng, Harry Kite, Jevani Brown, Pierce Sweeney (C), Jonathan Grounds, Cheick Diabate 

Substitutes - Scott Brown, Jake Caprice, Rekeem Harper, Matt Jay, Jay Stansfield, Harry Smith, Kegs Chauke

MK Dons

Jamie Cumming, Dean Lewington (C), Jack Tucker, Warren O'Hora, Will Grigg, Bradley Johnson, Conor Grant, Darragh Burns, Dan Harvie, Henry Lawrence, Dawson Devoy

Substitutes - Franco Ravizzoli, Matt Smith, Daniel Oyegoke, Joshua Kayode, Louie Barry, Matt Dennis, Zak Jules