Exeter City v Bristol Rovers
Sky Bet League One, St James Park, Thursday 26 December, 3:00pm
Bristol Rovers will be looking to build on their draw with Wrexham when they travel to Exeter City for their penultimate game of 2024.
The Gas gained a point against the Red Dragons on the weekend to end their three-game losing run in Sky Bet League One, with Promise Omochere netting the leveller with a close-range header, cancelling out Elliot Lee's first-half opener.
Rovers are three points clear of the relegation zone and will want to beat the Grecians after losing 3-2 to them earlier in the season in the Vertu Trophy.
Exter City returned to winning ways in their last outing, coming from behind to beat Burton Albion thanks to goals from Josh Magennis and Millenic Alli.
Tickets...
Tickets are no longer available, and there will be no sales on the day.
Travel...
By car, take the M5 motorway southbound. After about 30 miles, take exit 30 for A376 toward Exmouth. Merge onto the A3015, then follow signs for the city centre. Continue onto Exe Bridges and follow directions for St James Park.
Opposition...
Exeter are playing in League One for the third successive season after gaining promotion from League Two in second place in the 2021-22 campaign. They have solidified themselves in the third tier, finishing 14th and 13th in the past two seasons and are sitting in the same position they ended the previous term.
The Grecians were pushing towards the playoffs in October, with a 2-0 win over Shrewsbury Town putting them in fourth position, where they combined a six-game unbeaten run with a club record six consecutive clean sheets.
However, they have struggled for form recently. Their 2-1 triumph over Burton on the weekend was their first win in League One since early November, with Gary Caldwell's men only four points outside the playoffs and looking to build momentum.
There will also be a few familiar names to Rovers fans, with Tristan Crama playing 19 games for the Grecians in League One this season. He was on loan at the Gas from Brentford last term, making 27 appearances in the third tier. Ryan Woods has also been a regular, with the midfielder having a short loan spell at Rovers in the previous campaign.
Previous Meetings...
Rovers have already played Exter this season, losing 3-2 in the Vertu Trophy at The Memorial Stadium. Connor Taylor and Isaac Hutchinson scored levellers for the Gas, with the Grecians twice taking the lead before confirming their victory with a late goal from Demetri Mitchell, 364 days after suffering an ACL injury.
The Pirates beat Exeter in their last League One meeting, with Brandon Aguilera netting a stunning debut goal in a 1-0 victory. Before then, the Grecians had been unbeaten in their last seven against Rovers, winning five and drawing two in all competitions.
Officials:
Referee: Tom Reeves
Assistant Referees: Ravel Cheosiaua and Steven Plane
Fourth Official: Thomas Staten
