“We know if we get it right and we have the desire and the humility and the quality at times, we can beat anyone in the league.”
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Having begun 2026 with a win over Luton Town, Exeter City will today take on another of the ‘big boys’ in League One.
The Grecians are on the road for the third time in just over a week when they face Huddersfield Town as they will look to pick up more points away from home.
Performances away from St James Park had by and large been good, even if the results hadn’t shown that to be the case. The Grecians were arguably the better side against Leyton Orient, Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers but lost them all by a single goal, as they did on Boxing Day at Cardiff City in what was a very even game.
The long-awaited away win came on Monday at AFC Wimbledon when Jayden Wareham’s header gave City a 1-0 victory. And with Pierce Sweeney’s stunning finish repeating the scoreline on New Year’s Day, Exeter will head to Yorkshire with back-to-back wins and with nine points from 12 over the festive period so far.
Jayden Wareham of Exeter City celebrates after winning during the Sky Bet League 1 Match between Exeter City and Luton Town at St James Park, Devon on 1 January 2026. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Huddersfield will be tough opponents. The Terriers are fifth in the League One table and come into the game on a run of six without defeat, and who haven’t lost at home since October. But Gary Caldwell’s side will be confident that they can get something from the trip given their recent performances, and sit sixth in the form table over the past six games.
“It will be a tough game,” Caldwell said. “At a big stadium, that’s the next step to make to go to a big stadium and get a win. We are very close, and we will be ready when Sunday comes.
“We know if we get it right and we have the desire and the humility and the quality at times, we can beat anyone in the league, but we also know how difficult an away game at Huddersfield.
“We know at big stadiums, we’ve just not quite got it right. So I said to the players, I need three more days out of them, where they need to recover tomorrow, prepare on Saturday, travel up, and do all the right things to be ready to give another huge effort.”
For what will be a fourth match in ten days, City’s squad will be stretched, with eight players having started all three of the games so far, and the likes of Jake Doyle-Hayes in particular ‘on the limit’, Caldwell said. Ed Turns might be back from his thigh injury, as he was set to return to full training on Friday, but for Ryan Rydel, Danny Andrew, Josh Magennis and Kevin McDonald, Sunday will come too soon.
Ed Turns of Exeter City applauds fans following defeat in the EFL League One match between Stockport County and Exeter City at Edgeley Park on 18 October 2025 in Stockport, England (Photo by Steve Taylor/PPAUK)
The victory on New Year’s Day took City up to 15 th in the League One table, but it remains ridiculously tight. Plymouth Argyle in 21 st are only two points behind City, and with Mansfield in ninth just five points ahead of the Pilgrims, one win can see clubs climb multiple places.
“I care about the performance and looking to the next game and I care about the time we are at in Exeter City’s history,” Caldwell added. “We want to be as high as we can finish up in the league and show ourselves off. Yes we have had difficult moments but this is a great moment and everyone has to play their part.”