Oxford United bowed out of the FA Cup as Gary Rowett lost for the first time as U’s head coach at Exeter.
His side did take the lead through Matt Phillips but the Grecians won the game 3-1 in Devon.
Here are three talking points from the game.
Oxford United Lose at Exeter
Line-Up
With a change of competition and a new influx of injuries, it was no surprise that Rowett rang the changes for this fixture.
Matt Ingram was handed a rare start in goal behind a back four of Greg Leigh, Jordan Thorniley, Sam Long and Hidde ter Avest.
Josh McEachran started alongside Idris El Mizouni in the double pivot, with Cameron Brannagan missing through injury.
Louie Sibley began on the left and Matt Phillips on the right, with Siriki Dembele deployed as the number ten behind Dane Scarlett, who came in for the injured Mark Harris.
There was also a new addition to the bench with Alex Matos being named among the subs before making his U’s debut in the second half, along with Marselino Ferdinan who came on towards the end.
Definitely Vulnerable
Despite taking the lead with a well-worked counter-attack with Dembele and Scarlett before being finished off by Phillips, Oxford looked extremely vulnerable at the back.
Ter Avest has looked decent when he’s been given the opportunity but struggled in Devon, while Thorniley was way off the pace and a yard behind on each of the Exeter goals.
Between the sticks, Ingram always looks likely to be the number two given Jamie Cumming’s good performances but he didn’t hand himself any favours.
Fringe Players Missed Opportunity
Following on from that point, it was a poor display from much of the fringe players all over the pitch.
With the lack of football for the squad as a whole, it was an opportunity to give the head coach a headache in terms of selection but none of them stood out.
The fringe defenders struggled, while El Mizouni and Sibley failed to make an impact despite some promising displays early in the season.
Rowett will be pleased with the performance of Dembele in the ten role, while Phillips took his goal well, but the output from the squad as a whole was poor.
