Exeter City manager Gary Caldwell was delighted with the way his Grecians side battled as they returned to winning ways in League One with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic
After back-to-back losses in the league, which were followed by successive cup victories, on-loan Brentford defender Tristan Crama, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Friday, scored the only goal of a tight game. The Frenchman rose highest from what was City’s 13th corner with a brilliant glancing header from an Ed Francis delivery.
The Addicks pushed late on for an equalizer, and Matty Godden missed the best of the chances to draw level. But the Grecians had done enough to claim the win to the delight of St. James Park. City stay 11th in the table, but just two points off the play-offs. Charlton dropped to 13th as they saw their six game unbeaten run end.
“I am delighted, and I thought we were excellent in how we set up for the game,” Caldwell said. “We knew it was going to be a really tough game; they are a team with lots of physicality and are very aggressive with how they go out of possession; they are very man-orientated, but our understanding of that and where we played the game was very good.
“First half we were excellent and should have been leading at halftime, but it wasn’t to be. I said it was a 1-0 game and will be fine margins, and we come up with a brilliant set piece which we work on and the boys carried it out perfectly, and it gets us a win, which is really important.
“Final third, I still think we can be better in our decision-making and how we drive at the last line and create an extra pass around the box, but I thought we deserved to be in front in the first half given our territory and the amount of opportunities—not so many chances—but opportunities to score.
“Second half, they went even more direct, which is very difficult to stop, but we stood up to it really well, defended really well, and scored a brilliant goal from a set piece, which is always nice. When you win a game 1-0 and what you work on in the week in terms of prep in and out of possession and set pieces comes off, it is very pleasing.
“It wasn’t a complete performance in how we really want it to be played, but if we want to be the team we crave, there will be moments when we have to dig games out, and I thought we did that brilliantly.”
After the FA Cup classic victory over Barnet last Saturday, Caldwell made just the one change to his Exeter City side. Francis returned in the centre of midfield in place of Reece Cole, who wasn’t in the matchday squad due to illness.
The Grecians dominated the early stages and pressure saw them win a series of corners as Charlton couldn’t get out of their own box. The best of the chances fell to Francis on the volley, but his strike couldn’t get through the sea of legs, while Ryan Woods saw a free kick punched away by Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
On the stroke of half-time, City had a decent shout for a penalty. Millenic Alli’s cross was headed by Ilmari Niskanen back across goal. Magennis, the goalkeeper and Zach Mitchell went for it, and it looked like the Northern Ireland international strikes was fouled in the process, but referee Matt Cortlett pointed only for a corner. Jack Aitchison and then Francis saw efforts blocked wide, as City’s first half dominance wasn’t converted into a lead.
Nathan Jones’ men were better in the second half, but on the hour, City went ahead. They had come close again when Niskanen cut inside and his shot took a wicked deflection only to find the side netting.
But from that corner—lucky number—the goal came. Francis’ delivery was whipped in, and Crama rose highest at the near post to flick and guide the header home to the joy of the Big Bank. It was his second goal of the season.
In the 81st minute, Charlton had a glorious chance to level. Ben Purrington’s back header was poor, as he gave it straight to Godden. The striker was one on one with Whitworth and looked certain to score, only to drag the shot wide. Alex Mitchell had another chance when he left unmarked after a corner but headed wide from six yards out.
“It is about what we do on the pitch, and when we get it right, we are a really dangerous team, and that should give them so much confidence,” Caldwell said. “It is a tough month playing teams around us, above us, but that shouldn’t fear us.”
Exeter City are back in action on Saturday when they host Lincoln City, but City will be without Magennis and Niskanen on international duty, one short of the three players needed to request a postponement.
