The managers M. Taylor and K. Curle are both dreading and looking forward to this decisive game in the upper regions of the League Two league table.
It's no vacation for neither Exeter City nor Northampton Town as both were in action only a few days ago. Expect some tired legs on the pitch and/or possibly some changes to the lineups.
Exeter City form and stats
Exeter City, who have the most clean sheets (6) at home in League Two, have performed here at St James Park this season with 5 wins from 9 League Two matches. Some points have been lost, as they have drawn 3 games and lost 1.
The Exeter City goalkeeper Jonathan Maxted is looking to record 90 more "clean sheet" minutes as his team have now played 225 minutes without conceding a goal.
The points were shared in Exeter City's previous game, also at home. Visiting Oxford United travelled back with a point after a 0-0 scoreline. In the match before that, Exeter City hosted Hartlepool United and drew the FA Cup game 2-2.
A case of two points dropped for Exeter City in the Oxford United match as a lead 2-0 was lost and what looked like a victory ended in a draw.
The hosts are modest favourites in this match, with the bookmakers estimating the chance of a home win at about 50% +- five percent. It's interesting to look at how Exeter City have performed under similar circumstances, so here are some numbers: When modest favourites like this (we found 15 games) they have won 9 times, drawn 4 and lost 2.
Exeter City are traveling soon after this match as the FA Cup match at Hartlepool United awaits in three days.
Exeter City has scored 13 league goals at home this season, in 9 matches. Exeter City are not conceding a lot of goals here at St James Park in the league, averaging less than one per game. The total is 6 from 9 matches.
Northampton Town form and stats
3-3-3 is the win-draw-loss statistic for Northampton Town in their League Two matches away.
It might be tough going out on the road again for Northampton Town, facing their second straight away game. Especially as the previous game, ended with a defeat 1-2 versus Portsmouth. Prior to that match, a home win 3-1 against Notts County in the FA Cup.
Northampton Town are the outsiders in this one, but not by much. Their performance in similar games (being the away team and moderate outsiders) is 2 wins, 4 draws and 4 defeats. From a total of ten matches.
Northampton Town find the net in their away games, although not all the time. 10 goals from 9 away fixtures in the league. As opposed to that, Northampton Town have seen the ball go into their own net 11 times on the road.
Head 2 Head
Head-to-head totals (for the last ten meetings): Exeter City won 2 games, 2 matches ended with a draw and Northampton Town has 6 wins. Over 2,5 goals / under 2,5 goals: 6 / 4Top Goalscorers
  N. Law 6 goals |   A. Williams 6 goals |  R. Bowman 5 goals |
Exeter City missing players
Northampton Town missing players
| Exeter City | Northampton Town | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 19 | 9 | 4 | Played | P | 2 | 9 | 19 |
| 9 | 5 | 2 | Won | W | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| 6 | 3 | 2 | Drew | D | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | 1 | 0 | Lost | L | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 24 | 13 | 6 | Scored | S | 2 | 10 | 28 |
| 20 | 6 | 1 | Conceded | C | 2 | 11 | 19 |
| 89% | 89% | 75% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| 63% | 56% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 67% | 74% |
| 37% | 33% | 25% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 50% | 44% | 42% |
| 37% | 33% | 25% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 22% | 26% |
| 5% | 0% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 0% | 5% |
| 42% | 33% | 25% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 44% | 42% |
| 47% | 67% | 75% | Clean Sheets | C S | 50% | 33% | 37% |
| 21% | 11% | 25% | Failed to Score | F T | 0% | 22% | 21% |
| 6.7 | 6.8 | 6.2 | Corners For (avg) | C F | 2.5 | 5.1 | 4.6 |
| 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.5 | Corners Against (avg) | C A | 10 | 7.9 | 6.6 |
| 1.4 | 1.7 | 2 | Yellow Cards (avg) | Y C | 3 | 2.9 | 2.3 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Red Cards | R C | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 261 | 128 | 49 | Total Shots | T S | 13 | 92 | 229 |
| 80 | 39 | 10 | Shots on Target | S O | 4 | 32 | 77 |
| 30% | 33% | 60% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 50% | 31% | 36% |
- Exeter City has the most clean sheets (6) at home
- Exeter City have scored at least twice as many goals as they have conceded at home.
- Northampton Town have played more matches over 2,5 goals away than home.
- Northampton Town haven’t played a single 0-0 game.
- Northampton Town is in the best form (5-1-0)
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Swindon Town | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 22 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 11 | 10 | 36 |
| 2 | Forest Green Rovers | 19 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 11 | 35 |
| 3 | Crewe Alexandra | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 32 | 22 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 34 |
| 4 | Exeter City | 19 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 24 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 4 | 33 |
| 5 | Cheltenham Town | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 15 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 31 |
| 6 | Northampton Town | 19 | 9 | 4 | 6 | 28 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 31 |
| 7 | Bradford City | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 26 | 18 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 31 |
| 8 | Plymouth Argyle | 18 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 27 | 21 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 12 | 6 | 29 |
| 9 | Port Vale | 19 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 25 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 0 | 28 |
| 10 | Colchester United | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 23 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 27 |
| 11 | Newport County | 17 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 17 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 27 |
| 12 | Salford City | 19 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 23 | 28 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 16 | -5 | 25 |
| 13 | Cambridge United | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 23 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 24 |
| 14 | Macclesfield Town | 19 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 18 | 21 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 15 | -3 | 23 |
| 15 | Mansfield Town | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 26 | 26 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 16 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 21 |
| 16 | Scunthorpe United | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 25 | 26 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 10 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 16 | -1 | 21 |
| 17 | Crawley Town | 19 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 25 | 31 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 17 | -6 | 21 |
| 18 | Grimsby Town | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 20 | 22 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 10 | -2 | 20 |
| 19 | Leyton Orient | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 34 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 15 | -8 | 20 |
| 20 | Oldham Athletic | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 9 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 16 | -7 | 19 |
| 21 | Carlisle United | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 19 | 31 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 16 | -12 | 19 |
| 22 | Walsall | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 26 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 13 | -12 | 19 |
| 23 | Stevenage | 18 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 11 | -9 | 14 |
| 24 | Morecambe | 19 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 35 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 21 | -19 | 14 |