Jay is the difference as City see off Bradford
EXETER City manager Matt Taylor felt the quality of his Grecians side shone through as they scored three times in extra-time to book their spot in round two of the FA Cup.
Having drawn 1-1 in the first meeting, and after a hard-fought 90 minutes at St James Park, where Bradford City had the better of the chances, if not the play, substitutes Matt Jay and Nigel Atanagana struck in the extra 30 minutes to extend the club record unbeaten run.
Firstly Jay smashed home from the edge of the box in the 99 th minute after a quick counter-attack, before the Frenchmen turned home a Jake Caprice five minutes later.
And the captain made it 13 for the season late on with another nerveless finish to seal the triumph in the round one replay against the Bantams’ ten men after Lee Angol had been given a second yellow card moments earlier.
The 3-0 win makes it 19 unbeaten for Exeter, extending the record, and is 18 without defeat at St James Park - both the longest current streaks in English football - with a trip to League One Cambridge United the prize in round two. That, of course, is not the subject to an FA investigation after it emerged Exeter used six substitutes in the fixture, one more than the permitted five.
Speaking after the game and before that news broke, Taylor said: “It was always going to be an armwrestle for a long period and they are an outstanding team for our level and they showed it tonight and we stayed in the game.
“Cam (Dawson) made a couple of important saves at 0-0 but we had a bit extra in our legs and quality off the bench as well, and scored some good goals. It was an enjoyable finish and we had to enjoy the struggle through the game.
“It was hard-earned and hardfought, and we were willing to do what was needed, and then a little bit of quality to shine through during the end. The goal changed it and put more pressure on them, but in relation to the flow of the game, we had to wait and it came so, so late, and I hope not taken too much out of the lads as Saturday is the next opportunity.”
Owura Edwards had Exeter’s best chance in normal time, heading straight at Richard O’Donnell at the end of the first period, while Levi Sutton was denied by Dawson when clean through at the start of the second half.
Elliot Watt nearly won it for Derek Adams’ men in stoppage time but rattled the crossbar, before Josh Key, playing as a makeshift striker, wasted a massive opportunity to put Exeter ahead.
But it mattered little as Jay netted twice, and Atangana once, in extratime, and the skipper could even have completed a hat-trick late on, but saw an effort strike the post.
Angol, who only came off the bench on the hour, and could have sent off for a clash with Alex Hartridge, finally saw a second yellow and red for another aerial challenge on Harry Kite, having committed at least seven fouls in his half an hour on the pitch.
The pair were among six substitutes Taylor brought on, and while the manager doesn’t like the ruling, he took full advantage of it and the changes paid dividends.
“I will keep moaning about it but I was able to change the game,” he said. “Our fitness levels showed and they were on their knees at the end of the game. I don’t like the rule but in this competition we can use it.
“We brought MJ on when the time was right. He works in a bit of space, and when the game stretched, he is the right person, so it was about when to use him.
“As soon as it stretched and opened up, we only needed one chance, and I was pleased with the impact and that is why he is the captain of the club. It was a difficult game of football and hard to battle and scrap but we got the just rewards. We got what we deserved and it wasn’t always pretty but did what we needed.”
City ended the game with Key upfront after Sam Nombe was withdrawn at full-time, with the striker having picked up a minor calf injury and replaced as a precaution.
“I wanted to bring Sam off earlier,” Taylor said. “He had a calf tightness and the last thing we want to do is lose Sam and maybe I should have brought him off earlier than I did.”