2023-24 Carabao Cup: Fourth Round – Exeter City vs Middlesbrough

Exeter City host Middlesbrough at St James’ Park in a huge Fourth Round tie in 2023-24 Carabao Cup. 

Victory would see Exeter reach the Quarter-Finals for the first time in their history, whilst Middlesbrough are looking to reach the last eight for the first time since 2018-19 season.

 

Team News

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Jack Aitchison and Reece Cole (pictured) will both miss the match after they suffered injuries during Exeter’s 1-1 draw at home to Lincoln City in League One on Saturday

Middlesbrough have no fresh injury concerns to report following their Championship loss to Stoke on Saturday.

Darragh Lenihan, Tom Smith (both Achilles), Riley McGree (foot), Lewis O’Brien (ankle) and Marcus Forss (thigh) remain absent.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Exeter host Middlesbrough in a 7:45pm GMT kick-off at St James’ Park on Tuesday 31 October, untelevised in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Exeter City’s first-ever meeting against Middlesbrough in all competitions.
• Middlesbrough are playing away to Exeter City for the first time in a competitive fixture.
• Three of Exeter City’s four goals in this season’s Carabao Cup have been scored after half-time.
• Riley McGree and Morgan Rogers are Boro’s joint top goalscorers in this season’s competition, with both players having scored two goals apiece.
• Excluding penalty shootouts, Exeter have won just one of their last five meetings against Championship clubs in this competition (W1, D1, L3), although they did beat Ipswich on penalties after a 1-1 draw in August 2018.

 

Prediction

Having claimed a huge Third Round scalp by beating Luton, Exeter won’t hold much fear in front of a sell-out home crowd but they must shore up their defence, having not won any of their six games since that victory.

Middlesbrough meanwhile will be glad to be back in action after their injury crisis saw them lack their usual spark in defeat against Stoke, but that experience will of been a valuable lesson from which I do expect them to respond here given the quality within this squad.

Boro though can’t afford to underestimate Exeter given their recent habit of underestimating lower league opposition, but they should have enough goals in them to edge past the Grecians.

Prediction: Exeter 0-1 Middlesbrough

Result: Exeter 2-3 Middlesbrough