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Exeter City will be looking to build on their impressive 2-0 win away at Carlisle United when Reading come to St James Park on Saturday. The Grecians have seven points from their first four outings – three of them on the road – and have conceded just one goal.
The Royals, relegated from the Championship last season, have two wins and two defeats so far in League One. But having been deducted one point for breaches of EFL relegation related to the Club having failed to pay its players’ wages on time, sit two points below City.
It has been a turbulent summer for Ruben Selles’ men with them being placed twice under a transfer embargo, before starting with two losses. On the pitch though, back-to-back wins suggest they are starting to get things clicking.
Read More – Exeter City Sam Nombe transfer rumours addressed by Gary Caldwell
City though, with yet another St James Park sell-out likely, will be full of confidence that they can secure successive wins over their own. Manager Gary Caldwell is expecting it to be a difficult game, but one his side are fully capable of winning – especially after a first midweek of the season without any action.
“It will be another difficult game,” he said. “We have watched them in a lot of detail this week. They are a real possession based team but a different style of play. The way they do it is not something seen often in this league with the 4-2-2-2- and lots of players centrally and rotations high up the pitch. It will be a great test for us and we will enjoy it but we have to be good out of possession.
“We have to be better on the ball too. For me it is a fantastic game that will give us a real test, and it is a game we are ready for.
“Every game is a challenge. The beauty of this league is there are lots of different styles so we have to be adaptable and ready for what the opposition will do. But we have to be clear in our style to win games and know how we are going to win games of football.
“It has been a good week and we have full focus on Reading. Since I have been here, sell-outs have been the norm which shows how good the club is in, it is thriving, and supporters are getting behind everything we are trying to do. We hope to on Saturday get it going and another three points.”
Saturday’s match at home to Reading gives supporters of both the Grecians and the Royals the perfect opportunity to celebrate the life of a man who means so much to the two clubs in Eamonn Dolan.
Supporters are encouraged to take part in a minutes’ applause in the 48th minute of the match to commemorate the life of a true Exeter City legend and a gentleman, and someone who influenced many careers of players from Reading’s academy.
Dolan, who was City boss between 2002 and 2004, took over at St James Park as a new era dawned in EX4, as the Supporters Trust gained control of the club after relegation from the Football League.
Having been a player in the 90s and then worked as a Community Officer, Youth Team coach and finally Manager, Dolan’s contribution to Exeter City – stepping up in its darkest hour and seeing it through to brighter days – is seen as one that set the club on their way to where they are today.
Immortalised on a plaque in the Memorial Garden read the words “Without his drive, enthusiasm and humour, we would not be where we are now.”
Dolan took the job at Reading as the academy manager in 2004, and would go on to coach players that now feature for the Grecians today, including Pierce Sweeney and Zak Jules.
Caldwell added: “It’s so important as a football club that we remember our past – we remember the good days and the bad days, but we also remember the good people that kept this club going and helped us get to where we are today.
“It will be great to see both clubs come together and hopefully all the supporters can remember him in a positive way – hearing from the players that knew him, it seems Eamonn was someone who has touched their lives and career.”
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