Exeter concede 10 goals as Man City demolish Grecians

Match Report: Manchester City 10-1 Exeter City

Manchester City demolished Exeter City 10, one in the third round of the FA cup at the Etihad Stadium. 

It wasn’t to be for the Grecians, in the end. We knew it would be a tough fixture for the League One side but in the end, it turned into a humiliation.

It was intended to be the calm after Storm Goretti on a chilly, but sunny Saturday afternoon, for arguably one of Exeter City’s biggest matches in years.

More than eight thousand Exeter fans were present at the Etihad Stadium and were in full voice; it sounded like tens of thousands in the stands.

However, losing by such a margin potentially wasn’t Gary first thoughts prior to one of the biggest matches in his managerial career.

A quick start from both sides and it was Exeter who had the first chance of the match- Liam Oakes headed the ball but his shot was stopped by England keeper James Trafford. 

Manchester City built momentum and started to take control of the match. The Premier League giants out strengthened the Grecians in the box and subsequently took the lead at the Etihad courtesy of striker, Max Alleyne. 

The quality of the hosts was matchless; replying with answers to whatever Exeter threw at them. 2024 Balon D’or winner, Rodri doubled the lead for the home side. A stunning long-range shot by the Spanish international was slotted into the corner; a finish even Exeter fans were impressed by.

City were hoping to go into the break just two goals behind, but Manchester City extended their lead twice before the break due to clumsy defending by the Grecians.

The score at half time was Manchester City four, Exeter City nil. 

But just three minutes after the break the hosts continued the second half how they ended the first, with another goal and extending their lead to five as Rico Lewis placed the ball past Exeter keeper Joe Whitworth.

£60 million Antoine Semenyo scored the sixth for Manchester City on his debut. The Ghanan international slotted it in the bottom corner, to the frustration of the 8,000 Exeter fans. 

The Citizens were just formidable, thwarting Exeter from having a sniff in the box. They continued to out play the Devon side and with 20 minutes to go, extended their lead to seven goals. Tijjani Reijnders scored a spectacular goal from outside the box, curling around Joe Whitworth. 

Two more Manchester City goals brought the total to nine- completely exnihilating the Devon side. 

However, in the dying moments, Exeter had their moment, teenager George Birch scored an incredible goal to give the Grecian’s a goal at the Etihad. The Grecians fans were celebrating as if they progressed through to the fourth round of the cup!

But that was short lived as the hosts scored their 10th goal of the contest which made it Exeter’s heaviest ever defeat. 

The full-time score at the Etihad Stadium was Manchester City 10, Exeter City one.