
Exeter need to 'grow up' despite rare win
Baxter says he is "really looking forward to pre-season" as he tries to put the worst campaign in Exeter's recent history behind him.Sunday's victory was just Exeter's fourth in the league this season - although as with the win over Saracens in January, it came against a side shorn of its international stars. Chiefs remain second-from-bottom, where they are guaranteed to finish, which will be their worst-ever top-flight season since promotion in 2010 - no matter how they fare against Harlequins and Sale in their final two fixtures."This is a really good opportunity for us now because we are going against two teams, and I have expectations of us being top-four next season," added Baxter, who has led Exeter to two league titles and the 2020 European Champions Cup."The first thing I'm going to say on Tuesday is 'let's see who the men are, who are the kind of players who can be a top-four person are, because right here and now some of you are almost refusing to do basic things that look after you', and we've got to get over that very, very quickly."

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Reuters
17 minutes ago
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Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Corbin Carroll lead Diamondbacks past Guardians
August 20 - Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s two-run single broke a tie in the seventh, Corbin Carroll had his fourth two-triple game of the season and the Arizona Diamondbacks broke a four-game losing streak with a 6-5 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Phoenix on Tuesday. Jake McCarthy had two hits, including a homer, Gurriel had three RBIs and Geraldo Perdomo had two hits and a walk for the Diamondbacks. Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer and Nolan Jones and Angel Martinez had two hits apiece for the Guardians, who have lost four of five and remain three games out of the third AL wild card position. Perdomo singled and stole second off Tim Herrin (4-3) with one out in the seventh before Ketel Marte was intentionally walked. Carroll hit into a fielder's choice and stole second before Gurriel's single. Austin Hedges singled in a run in the eighth to make it 6-5. The Guardians left the bases loaded in the seventh and eighth innings. Juan Burgos (1-0) pitched one-third of an inning to get out of the seventh and earn his first career victory and Andrew Saalfrank pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save. Carroll has a career-high and major league-leading 16 triples and is on pace to lead the majors for the third straight season. He is the sixth player in the modern era (since 1901) with four two-triple games in the same season, the first since Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford in 2004. Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee gave up seven hits and four runs in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five, walked one and hit a batter. He has given up at least four runs in eight of his last nine starts. Eduardo Rodriguez gave up five hits and four runs in 6 2/3 innings, with four strikeouts and three walks. Rodriguez was 7-0 with 2.51 ERA in nine previous starts against the Guardians. McCarthy's third homer of the season made it 1-0 in the third before Cleveland took a 2-1 lead in the fourth on run-scoring singles by Carlos Santana and Nolan Jones. Carroll scored on Gurriel's groundout after his first triple in the fourth for a 2-2 tie before Ramirez's two-out, two-run homer gave the Guardians a 4-2 lead in the fifth. Carroll's RBI triple in the fifth tied the game at 4-4 after Perdomo singled in Alek Thomas, who led off with a triple. --Field Level Media


South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Kevin Nicholson hails ‘effort, endeavour and grit' as Exeter win at Wycombe
The Grecians, who had only lost one of their last five league outings against the Chairboys, secured their second win at Adams Park in three seasons after Wanderers captain Jack Grimmer scored an own goal with seven minutes remaining. After Ethan Brierley's ball into the box seemed to be going into the hands of goalkeeper Mikki van Sas, Grimmer headed it over Wycombe's number one to give Exeter the win. It was their second league victory of the season, while Wanderers remain winless. Nicholson said: 'I would put the win down to effort, determination and grit more than how we drew it up tactically. 'Even though we wanted to be a bit more in control of possession, especially in the last 15 minutes, as they got through us way too easily. 'They had numerous shots which on another day, could have gone against us. 'However, credit to the lads who defended everything and Joe (Exeter's goalkeeper), who made some good saves. 'We put bodies on the line and yes, there was a lot of last-ditch defending, but we were organised, composed and controlled. 'The goal is unfortunate (for Jack Grimmer), but we did put bodies in the box, we put a lot of pressure on them, and we stressed their defence. 'Fortunately, for us, it finally gave, and we leave here with the win.' Despite the loss, Wycombe head coach Mike Dodds was 'proud' of his team's performance, and called the defeat a 'freak loss'. The result means Wycombe have had their worst start to a league season since 2020-21, and have now scored just three first-half goals in 25 games under the 39-year-old. He said: 'I feel the weight of the fans as they stuck with us. 'The style we have will make us successful but at the moment, we have to go through this pain to get to the other side. 'Tonight is a freak result as we were so dominant from start to finish. 'I don't think there'll be many games where the opposition didn't register a shot on goal and we come away losing the game. 'I'm proud of the group, as I left on Saturday (at Doncaster) very angry, as I didn't like what it (the performance) represented. 'But today, I thought we were excellent from start to finish and one moment has decided the game. 'We created loads of chances as we're getting the ball into the final third.' Since replacing Matt Bloomfield in February, Dodds has won eight of his 25 games in charge, drawing seven and losing 10 times.

Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Jack Grimmer own goal gives Exeter all three points at Wycombe
The Chairboys went into the contest with no wins in the last six league outings, with their most recent triumph being against Bolton back in April. They made three changes to the team that drew against Doncaster on Saturday, but it was the Grecians who looked more promising going forward. City, who have only lost one of their last five games against Wycombe since returning to League One in 2022, began well as Jack Fitzwater forced Mikki van Sas into a brilliant save just two minutes in. Ethan Brierley fired a shot wide, while Ilmari Niskanen, Tom Dean and Sonny Cox caused mayhem in the box with their crosses. For Wycombe, their best chances came via the left-hand side and through an unlikely source. Centre back Anders Hagelskjaer, who was making his home debut 222 days after joining the club, first had a snapshot saved by Joe Whitworth in the Exeter goal, before his header was easily gathered. Wycombe went into the break without scoring in the first half for the 22nd time in 25 matches under head coach Mike Dodds. Exeter sat back during the second period as they allowed Wanderers to have the ball, which led to Lowry, Dan Udoh and substitute Armando Junior Quitirna, but to no avail. Then, with seven minutes left, Niskanen's innocuous cross, which Van Sas seemed to have covered, was headed into his own net by Grimmer.