Reading’s second home league game on the bounce sees the Royals take on Exeter City under the SCL lights this Tuesday evening. Join us as we take a closer look at the opposition.
Form
Exeter City finished last season 16th in League One, 10 points clear of the relegation places. They were promoted back to the third tier in 2022 after finishing as runners-up in League Two, ending a 10-year spell in the fourth tier.
The Grecians currently sit 10th in the league, three places ahead of Reading but with a better goal difference, as the teams both sit on 36 points. Their recent form has been strong, with Exeter unbeaten in their last five league games, winning four and drawing one.
They come into this Tuesday’s game off the back of a 1-3 away win against bottom side Port Vale. The two sides played out a 1-1 draw down in Devon back in October, with former Royal Jayden Wareham pulling the Grecians level after Jack Marriott had put Reading ahead after six minutes.
The boss
Gary Caldwell: Caldwell was appointed Exeter manager in October 2022, taking over from Matt Taylor, who left the club to join Rotherham United.
Caldwell had a 14-year professional career as a defender, starting off at Newcastle United, before also playing for the likes of Hibernian, Celtic and Wigan Athletic, where he became captain of the Latics. He ended his playing career at Wigan before taking up a coaching role with the club.
It wasn’t long until he was made manager, taking over from Malkay Mackay in 2015. He won promotion in his first full season in the dugout, winning the League One title in 2016. Caldwell was sacked by Wigan partway through the 2016/17 season and went on to manage both Chesterfield and Partick Thistle.
He then had minor roles at Newcastle, Manchester City and Hibernian before his move back into first-team management with Exeter. The 43-year-old has led the Grecians to 14th-, 13th- and 16th-placed finishes in League One.
The Scotsman likes his teams to play aggressive, front-footed football, while also looking to hand opportunities to younger players.
Squad and team news
Exeter have made one signing so far this transfer window with winger Timur Tutierov joining on loan for the rest of the season from Premier League side Sunderland.
Defender Johnly Yfeko is expected to continue to miss out with a leg injury.
Predicted lineup
Whitworth, Sweeney, Fitzwater, Woodhouse, Niskanen, Oakes, Doyle-Harris, Brierley, Aitchison, Mendes Gomes, Wareham
Key player
5. Jack Fitzwater: Defender Fitzwater joined Exeter in September 2023 on a free transfer, following the end of his contract at Livingston.
He started his career In the West Bromwich Albion academy but only made one appearance for the Baggies, instead gaining first-team experience on a number of different loan spells. Fitzwater spent time on loan at Chesterfield, Hednesford Town, Forest Green Rovers and Walsall, where he had three separate spells.
He left West Brom to join Scottish side Livingston in 2020 where he spent three years, making over a century of appearances, scoring eight goals. Since joining Exeter the 28-year-old has made 60 appearances for the club, scoring two goals, with one of those coming this season.
Fitzwater is a ball-playing centre-back who is patient and doesn’t dive into tackles.
One to watch
9. Jayden Wareham: Striker Wareham joined Exeter this summer, having turned down a new contract at Reading.
He spent time in the youth setups at Reading and Queens Park Rangers before joining Woking in 2019. He made his Woking debut in 2020 and played 18 games for the club, before joining the Chelsea youth team in 2021.
While at Chelsea, Wareham made a number of appearances for their under-21 side, while also spending time on loan at Leyton Orient. He was released by the Blues in 2023 and joined Reading on a free transfer.
After impressing for the Reading under-21 side, Wareham became more of a first-team regular last season, ultimately making 43 appearances and scoring eight goals for the Royals.
Since signing for Exeter in the summer, the 22-year-old has 13 goals to his name, with 10 of those coming in the league, making him the club’s top scorer. Wareham is a hard-working and physical striker who typically leads the line on his own up top.
Category: General Sports
