“We gifted them two goals. Fair enough if, like cut through us and scored two brilliant goals, but they haven't."

Barnsley were ‘there for the taking’ but sloppy goals gifted them all three points. That was the verdict of Exeter City’s Ethan Brierley after the Grecians’ winless run reached nine with defeat in Yorkshire.

‌

David McGoldrick and Vimal Yoganathan put the hosts 2-0 up before the game was stopped after home fans threw tennis balls on to the pitch midway through the first half. Jayden Wareham’s 18th goal of the season with 15 minutes to play gave the Grecians late hope, but they couldn’t find a leveller.

‌

It was a first defeat in seven on the road for City, but it is now nine games since they last claimed a win. But with all the sides below Exeter failing to win, Matt Taylor’s side remain 15 ^th in the table and six clear of the relegation zone.

‌

“It’s frustrating really, because we thought they were there for the taking,” Brierley said. “But such a poor part from everyone really as we gifted them two really sloppy goals and then it was always going to be tough from that. 2-0 down, we still thought we were in the game, which we were, got a goal and just couldn't find the equalizer, so a bit frustrated, but onto Tuesday now.

“We gifted them two goals. Fair enough if, like cut through us and scored two brilliant goals, but they haven't. They scored two really sloppy goals. So we're really annoyed at ourselves.”

Speaking about what Taylor said at half-time, the Brentford loanee said: “He said, listen, we've given them two really, really rubbish goals, but it's gone now. Get at them in second half. We're still in the game and we'll get back into this game, but unfortunately, we didn't quite get the equalizer.

“I think we were knocking on the door near the end, but we just couldn't quite get the ball over the line. I think we need to do what we did in the last 15 minutes for longer in the game and sustain attacks, keep the ball in there, switch the ball and pen teams in more because obviously it's more enjoyable for us and we look quite a good team when we do that.”

City are back in action on Tuesday when they host League One leaders Lincoln City at St James Park. That is followed by second placed Cardiff City visiting next Saturday.

"I’m really looking forward to it and I hope for everyone who’s there to say it’s a good game of football.”

IF Matt Taylor needed a match to give him an indication of Exeter City’s League One season so far, then Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Burton Albion was probably it.

The Grecians defended their box pretty well, bar the first ten minutes or so, their approach play was typically good and they created a few decent chances, but that final action was sometimes lacking. City weren’t helped by poor decisions – at least one of the two disallowed goals for offside were actually onside and there was a clear handball in the dying moments which was ignored, despite the cry of handball by thousands inside the stadium.

Taylor is a different man now, though, acknowledging human error from the linesman, rather than criticising the poor standard of officiating throughout English football. But if he can be the man that can add that finishing touch to City’s enterprising and eye-catching football, whilst maintaining their defensive steeliness, then any relegation fears should quickly be allayed.

“You look at our goals scored tally (39 in 34 games) and I think there’s room for improvement in relation to that, whereas our defensive stats (40 conceded) are strong in the league, so that mirrors up in terms of probably what we felt on Tuesday,” Taylor said.

“We were just lacking that last moment of real quality or penetration. I use the word ‘purpose,’ I use ‘intent’ all the time because I think it’s such an understandable structure for two thirds of the pitch, but then, that’s got to materialise into goal actions and goal quality moments; making your opposition defend, let alone anything else.

“That’s one of the aspects of the areas which stands out to me straight away, but I’ve said to some of the attacking players today that, when you see the whites in the eyes of the defenders, take them on and make them defend.

“There’ll be times then we can move the ball, but you’ve made them defend, so we’ve moved them around naturally and then we need to ask questions in certain moments.

“With the limited training time, it might take a little bit of time to show that and every game’s different. Burton are so, so responsible in terms of closing the middle of the pitch space, but Barnsley might be a little bit different this weekend, so game requirements will be important.

“We’ve got one of the leading goalscorers in the league, in Jayden (Wareham, who has 15 league goals this season), so that was one of the pleasing aspects (of Tuesday) that some of the pressure was taken off of him on Tuesday with Josh (Magennis’s) goal. But there’s got to be other ways of scoring than just Jayden.”

The Grecians head to Barnsley today knowing that a win would take them above the Tykes in the table – and their recent record at Oakwell is good. Exeter have won all three games they have played in South Yorkshire since their promotion to the third tier and it is somewhere where they enjoy playing.

The Tykes lost 1-0 at home to Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday, a fifth home defeat of the season, but the Grecians will have to be on their game if they are to make it four wins in a row at Oakwell.

“We’ve got a clear identity and a clear idea in our minds in terms of what we want to do,” Taylor said. “You go away from home, you always want to quieten down the crowd in any respects, whether it’s Barnsley, or Burton - whoever it is - you want to have a little bit of control of the game and make the home fans feel a bit uncomfortable, similar to what Burton did to us on Tuesday night.

“I’d snap my hand off right now for that first ten minutes of the game, if it had flipped our way around - high up the pitch and asking questions of the opposition. That’s why I was so pleased the team wrestled back elements of control because that was a difficult start.

“We have to be us, we have to our best version, we have to respect the opposition, because we do, but I think Barnsley is a good place to play football.

“You mentioned those punters – I have spent a bit time in Yorkshire now to know what they’re about and they’re good people, fully committed, fantastic fanbase. I’m really looking forward to it and I hope for everyone who’s there to say it’s a good game of football.”

Average house prices near £283,000 and rents top £1,300 a month as reports from Devon Housing Commission and housing analysts warn of increasing pressure on the city’s housing supply

Exeter continues to face significant housing pressures as demand for affordable homes outpaces supply, with rising house prices and rents making it increasingly difficult for many residents to secure suitable accommodation.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the average house price in Exeter was around £283,000 in December 2025.

At the same time, private rents in the city reached an average of £1,319 per month in January 2026, highlighting the growing affordability challenges for both buyers and renters.

First-time buyers paid an average of £244,000 for homes in the city in late 2025, while properties purchased with a mortgage averaged around £289,000.

READ NEXT: Exeter Council Tax 2026/27: How your contribution is spent

These figures illustrate the financial barriers many households face when trying to enter the housing market.

Local and regional studies have also pointed to the scale of housing demand in the area.

The Exeter Housing Market Insights Report produced by Global City Futures found that demand for homes in the city continues to grow, driven by economic expansion, population growth and Exeter’s role as a regional employment and education hub.

The issue extends beyond home ownership.

The Devon Housing Commission warned in its 2024 report that the county faces an affordability crisis, combined with a shortage of social housing and rising demand for private rented properties.

The commission recommended increasing the supply of affordable homes and improving planning processes to better meet the needs of local communities.

Further evidence comes from the Exeter Local Housing Needs Assessment commissioned by Exeter City Council together with East Devon, Mid Devon and Teignbridge district councils.

The assessment provides a detailed picture of the scale and type of housing needed across the wider Exeter area and is used to inform planning and housing policy decisions.

Local authorities say addressing these pressures will require a combination of new housing supply, better use of land and targeted support for specific groups who face particular difficulties accessing housing.

Members of Devon County Council are due to discuss proposals relating to housing provision when cabinet members meet on Wednesday 11 March.

The council has said it is exploring ways to use its assets to help address housing shortages.

Councillor Julian Brazil, leader of the council, said the authority is looking at how land and resources can be used to support people most in need of accommodation.

“This decision is about using council land in a way that supports people who need housing the most,” he said.

“By prioritising care leaver housing, key worker accommodation including for teachers and nurses, and affordable homes, we are aligning our assets with our wider responsibilities and strategic priorities.”

Housing for care leavers and key workers has become an increasing focus for councils across the country as high housing costs affect recruitment and retention in essential public sector roles.

Nationally, the government has set a target of building 300,000 homes a year in an attempt to address the housing shortage, although analysts have warned that delivery continues to fall short of demand in many areas.

In Exeter, housing policy and development decisions are guided by local evidence and planning strategies designed to ensure that future growth reflects the needs of the city’s population.

However, reports from housing bodies and local authorities suggest that addressing affordability and availability will remain a major challenge in the years ahead.

Devon County Council cabinet will review proposals to explore affordable housing at the Matford site, amid earlier concerns over trees and public walking routes

The future of a controversial site on Devon County Council land could take a significant step forward, with proposals to consider affordable housing at the location.

The Matford offices site at County Hall, on Exeter’s Topsham Road, has previously been declared surplus land, but residents have opposed the potential development of housing there.

The site will now be discussed at a Devon County Council cabinet meeting next week.

Members will be asked to agree a recommendation to “consider the opportunity for the provision of affordable homes, care leaver housing and key worker housing”.

There had also been fears about the removal of well-established trees, as well as concerns that selling the site could lead to the closure of existing walking routes through the area.

However, a cabinet report appears to address those concerns, stating that there would be no significant tree removal and that any land disposal would “allow for the retention of routes frequently used by walkers and dog walkers”.

The council’s land and property committee agreed in January that the land was surplus to requirements. At the same meeting, however, officers were asked to examine whether any development could help deliver some of the council’s wider strategic objectives.

The cabinet will therefore decide whether to “prioritise an innovative approach for the site development that contributes to the council’s strategic plan ambitions and considers the opportunity for the provision of affordable homes, care leaver housing and key worker housing”.

Officers had previously warned that targeting the development solely for these uses could prove difficult, but said requiring a proportion of the homes to be affordable would be more realistic.

Although the land is owned by Devon County Council, any potential developer would still need to submit plans to Exeter City Council, which is the planning authority for the area.

The matter is also returning to cabinet because officers had earlier said the land represented less than five per cent of the existing public open space at the County Hall site.

It has since been confirmed that the figure is actually 7.4 per cent, which the report states “requires correction”.

Ten complaints were submitted after the land and property committee’s decision in January.

However, the decision to bring the matter back to cabinet had already been made before those complaints were lodged.

The cabinet will discuss the future of the site next Wednesday (11 March).

Grecians still have a long injury list but Reece Cole and Danny Andrew are nearing return

EXETER City manager Matt Taylor has praised the robustness of captain Pierce Sweeney and the dependable Jack McMillan ahead of the Grecians’ trip to Barnsley tomorrow.

‌

Despite Sweeney heading to London for a scan on a problematic ankle injury on Monday, the results were positive and allowed the Irishman to take his place – albeit dosed up on painkillers – in the side that drew 1-1 with Burton Albion on Tuesday.

‌

McMillan also played through the pain barrier against the Brewers and ahead of tomorrow’s clash at Oakwell, the Grecians look set to be without the likes of Jack Fitzwater, Ed Turns, Johnly Yfeko, Ryan Rydel, Danny Andrew, Reece Cole and Jake Doyle-Hayes for the trip north, while others will again be patched up and put into battle.

‌

“The injuries are what they are,” was Taylor’s philosophical outlook on the situation. “For Pierce to get through 90, for Jack McMillan to get through 90 - and perform the way they did and to stand up to that physical barrage - I was so impressed, pleased, proud of those two - and the rest of the group. But I don’t want to make too much of it. Everyone goes through it, this is our moment.

“I said on Tuesday we’re only going to get stronger. We might add a player to the squad this weekend, so I’m looking forward to seeing it as it grows and grows. But the way the backline is, just in terms of numbers, is difficult. A couple of players are probably going to be out for a longer period of time. It’s a shame, and it does affect any team, but we have to get on with it.

“Reece Cole’s done a bit of training today, Danny Andrew’s has done some training, so those two are getting closer and closer. It’d be a really small amount they could be available for, but to have them available in some capacity would be great - and obviously Ryan Rydel missed Tuesday night. Straight away, going towards the weekend - as it stands, touch wood - we look a little bit stronger than we did on Tuesday, and then all of a sudden we get a couple more back as we go.

‌

“We’ve been unlucky, but we can’t spend any time with any negative energy about it. I always say it’s a fantastic opportunity for whoever’s next in line and whoever’s performing.”

The interim boss referred to Exeter as his footballing home in midweek but south Yorkshire has very much become the family home for Taylor. A student at Sheffield Hallam before his professional career took off, he moved back there when appointed Rotherham United boss, when left St James Park in October 2022. When out of work, his trips to watch Barnsley at Oakwell were frequent.

“Being in south of Sheffield myself, it’s one of the teams - or they are one of teams - I’ve watched quite a lot this season,” Taylor said. “They have some incredible players, some fantastic attacking players.

“I know they got beat (1-0 at home by Wycombe Wanderers) on Tuesday night, so they’ll be looking for a reaction off the back of that.

“We’re going away from home, which sometimes suits us more than the home games. Yeah, my first away game and what a fantastic place to play football. A great stadium and a place with good history.”