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Coventry City progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Exeter City at St Andrews.

The Sky Blues’ class shone through against an inferior Exeter side as a brace from Jordy Hiwula, Matt Godden’s first City goal and a late finish from Amadou Bakayoko ensured that Mark Robins’ side eased through in comfortable fashion.

City were ahead in the opening minute after a darting run from Frankaty Dabo carved open the Exeter defence before finding Hiwula free on the edge of the penalty area, who slotted the ball past Grecians goalkeeper Jonny Maxted with a composed finish.

The Sky Blues doubled their advantage after 23 minutes when Godden shrugged off his defender to flick Zain Westbrooke’s delightful free-kick into the top corner.

It was three for City five minutes later as Godden dispossessed Jack Sparkes before racing to the Exeter box, and the striker’s pull-back found the on-rushing Westbrooke and despite his effort being blocked, Hiwula was there to pick up the pieces and convert from the tightest of angles.

With a comfortable advantage, City looked to see the game out but were guilty of complacency when Pierce Sweeney headed into an empty net with ten minutes of the game remaining.

However, as a period of Exeter pressure intensified, City countered and Bakayoko popped up in the penalty area to poke home Michael Rose’s header and seal the game for the Sky Blues.

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Full-time: 4-1

The final whistle goes and City have ensured their passage to the second round of the Carabao Cup.

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GOAL! Fantastic four for the Sky Blues

After weathering an intensifying Exeter storm, Bakayoko pokes home to seal the game for City.

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Dabo caught late

A late challenge from an Exeter player sees Dabo go down clutching his leg. Great piece of skill from the full-back to initially escape his marker.

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GOAL! Exeter pull one back

Jack Sparkes’ in-swinging free-kick catches out Ben Wilson and Pierce Sweeney is there to head into an empty net. Comeback on?

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Eccles ON, Shipley OFF

19-year-old Josh Eccles comes on in place of Jordan Shipley. Yet another impressive performance from Shipley, who’s looked calm and composed in midfield.

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Great save

Ben Wilson is finally called into action on his debut, lunging down to his right to keep Jack Sparkes’ venomous effort from creeping into the far corner. Superb reflexes.

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We're winning away!

A chorus of ‘We’re winning away!’ echoes from the Sky Blues fans sat in the Kop stand. City are settling in quite nicely into their new ‘home’.

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Godden OFF, Bakayoko ON

Godden departs the field of play to be replaced by Amadou Bakayoko. An excellent shift from the striker, who deserved his goal.

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Hyam clears the danger

Exeter threaten down City’s right and Seymour curls a dangerous ball into the near post, but Hyam is there to clear the danger. The Sky Blues are cruising in second gear at the moment.

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Attendance

1,555 in attendance here at St Andrews this evening. If I was to guess, I’d say about 200 of those are Exeter supporters.

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More of the same

City looking to exploit the space out wide. Shipley does well to find McCallum free on the left, and his in-swinging cross is a fraction too far ahead for Jobello at the back post.

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We're underway for the second-half

Matt Godden initiates second-half proceedings here at St Andrews. The Sky Blues kicking towards the Tilton Road end.

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Half-time: 3-0

The whistle goes for half-time and the Sky Blues hold a comfortable lead against Exeter. A brace from Hiwula and Godden’s first City goal mean that Mark Robins’ side virtually have one foot into the second round of the Carabao Cup, barring a second-half miracle.

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Exeter miss a gilt-edged chance

A searching ball catches Dom Hyam unaware and Alex Fisher is able to flick the ball onto Pierce Sweeney, but the full-back scoffs his shot wide of the post.

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It's a little quieter now

The noisy contingent of Exeter supporters have quietened down in the aftermath of City’s third. The tempo of the game has also slowed down considerably.

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GOAL! Hiwula with his second

This is turning into a rout for the Sky Blues! Godden breaks down the right and pulls it back for Westbrooke, but the midfielders effort is blocked into the path of Hiwula and he manages to convert the ball in from the tightest of angles. I’d go as far as saying game, set and match.

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GOAL! Sky Blues double their advantage

Matt Godden opens his City account with a delightful header. Sam McCallum done brilliantly well to win a free-kick on the edge of Exeter’s penalty area, and the resulting delivery is headed into the top corner by Godden!

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Pictures from the match

Coventry City vs Exeter City: Carabao Cup action
Coventry City vs Exeter City: Carabao Cup action
Coventry City vs Exeter City: Carabao Cup action
Coventry City vs Exeter City: Carabao Cup action
Coventry City vs Exeter City: Carabao Cup action
Coventry City vs Exeter City: Carabao Cup action
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Godden with a gooden

Jordy Hiwula capitalises on a loose ball in Exeter’s half and loops a pass over to Matt Godden, and the forward strikes a ferocious first-time volley that stings the palms of Jonny Maxted. What a goal that could have been!

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Rose at the rescue

Lee Martin gets the better of Dom Hyam in City’s penalty area and fizzes a low cross across the face of goal, but Michael Rose is there to put the ball behind for a corner. Exeter are growing into this one.

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First chance for Exeter

Ben Seymour, making his competitive debut, glances a header across the face of goal that does little to worry Ben Wilson. First warning from the visitors.

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City in control

The Sky Blues are dominating possession so far, dissecting the Grecians’ midfield with some neat interchanges. Exeter have barely had a sniff of the ball so far.

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GOAL!

What a start from the Sky Blues! An electrifying run from Dabo sees him run to the edge of the Exeter box before finding Hiwula, who fires a lovely first-time effort into the bottom corner. 1-0.

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Kick off

Exeter win the toss and Lee Martin gets proceedings underway here at St Andrews.

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Here come the teams

The two teams come out of the tunnel...

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Opportunity for Hyam

After picking up the Player of the Season award from the last campaign, Dom Hyam has warmed the bench in the opening two games of the campaign.

The summer arrivals of Michael Rose and Kyle McFadzean have intensified competition in the centre-back position, and Hyam will be hoping to impress tonight and win his place back in the starting eleven.

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The last meeting

Tonight’s Carabao Cup fixture will be the first meeting between the two sides since that famous 3-1 victory at Wembley in May last year.

Jordan Shipley was on the scoresheet that afternoon, will he be on it again this evening?

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The boys are warming up

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Exeter team news

Alex Fisher and Jonny Maxted will make their first-team debuts as Exeter boss Matt Taylor makes eight changes to the side that beat Stevenage 1-0 on Saturday.

The Grecians also have Ben Seymour, an academy graduate, making his competitive debut tonight.

Former Sky Blues defender Aaron Martin is on the bench.

Exeter City: Maxted, Sweeney, Warren, Moxey, Sparkes, Jay, Collins, Tillson, Martin, Seymour, Fisher (4-4-2)

Subs: Ward, A Martin, Woodman, Bowman, Ajose, Cundy, Chrisene

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Team news

Mark Robins has made four changes to the team that were held against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday as Coventry City prepare to take on Exeter City in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Robins was true to his word in naming his strongest possible side as Matt Godden, a summer recruit from Peterborough United, leads the Sky Blues front line and makes his first full bow.

Ben Wilson will also make his Coventry debut as he replaces Marko Marosi in goal, whilst teenager Sam McCallum steps in at left-back in favour of Bernard Mason.

Michael Rose retains his place in the heart of the defence and is partnered alongside Dom Hyam. with Fankaty Dabo operating on the right-hand side of the back four.

Robins has stuck with the 4-3-3 formation used in the game against Bolton as Jordan Shipley, Liam Kelly and Zain Westbrooke start in midfield.

Flanking Gooden in attack is Jordy Hiwula and the summer signing of Wesley Jobello, who makes his third consecutive start in a Sky Blues shirt.

Gervane Kastaneer, signed from NAC Breda this summer, is an attacking option on the bench.


City: Wilson, Dabo, Hyam, Rose, McCallum, Westbrooke, Kelly, Shipley, Jobello, Goodem, Hiwula

Subs: Marosi, Mason, McFadzean, Bakayoko, Kastaneer, Eccles, Bapaga

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