Exeter City fell to a 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup against Premier League side Fulham at Craven Cottage.
by Ben Strange 

Two goals from Aboubakar Kamara did the damage for the home side who controlled the game throughout.

The Grecians did create a few chances, but were unable to force enough clear-cut opportunties to hurt their opponents as they departed the competition.

The Grecians made a host of changes to the side that started the match against MK Dons last weekend as Tristan Abrahams and Archie Collins made their full debuts, with Dara O’Shea and Jimmy Oates getting their first taste of competitive football for the club.

There were also starting places for Jordan Tillson, Lee Martin, Matt Jay and Luke Croll, who came on as a second half substitute last time out.

City’s Premier League opponents made a number of changes from their weekend win over Burnley but fielded some notable names in the form of Ryan Sessegnon, Calum Chambers and Alfie Mawson.

It was a nightmare start for Matt Taylor’s side as they fell behind within just four minutes. Cyrus Christie tried his luck from distance, and Pym could only punch the ball away as he made the save, but Kamara volleyed in expertly to make it 1-0.

But credit to City as they began to find their feet, and almost levelled on 15 minutes when they sprung on the counter-attack. After Collins battled well in midfield, he set Jay away, and the striker struck from the edge of the box but could only find Sergio Rico’s right-hand post.

An end-to-end first 20 minutes then saw Fulham break on the counter-attack from a City corner, and Kamara almost added a second from the edge of the box when he tried to curl the ball inside Pym’s left-hand post, but the keeper made a good save to keep the score at 1-0.

The Grecians began to see much more of the ball, though, with Lee Martin involved a great deal down the City left. Taylor’s side were often unable to force any clear-cut chances at goal, as Neeskens Kabano gave a reminder of the Fulham threat on the counter as he forced a low save from Pym.

The Fulham fans were then calling for VAR, when Kamara broke down the left before being challenged by Aaron Martin in the City box, but referee Kevin Friend waved away the appeals as the Grecians went in at the break trailing narrowly.

The home side started the second period with a chance inside the first minute when Christie got down the right before crossing into the path of Stefan Johansen, who shot just wide of Pym’s near post.

And the Grecians fell further behind when Kamara found his second when Johansen played a well weighted pass through the City defence for the striker to latch onto and slot past Pym as Slavisa Jokanovic’s side doubled their lead.

Half-time substitute Hiram Boateng created City’s first attempt of the second period when he picked up the ball in midfield before darting inside and curling an effort just over Rico’s goal.

Another introduction, Jack Sparkes, then made a good impression when he cut inside from the right to find Jay, but Chambers did just about enough to get a deflection on the striker’s attempt at goal.

On 65 minutes, and despite the City fans being in full voice in the away end, the home side created a good chance as they forced Pym into a smart save from close range as Fonte slid to try and poke the ball past him from a low cross.

The Grecians did have the ball in the net through Jay when he latched onto a ball over the top, but for the offside flag as City looked for a way back into the tie.

But Pym was at his best again just four minutes from time when he managed to get a hand to Johansen's goal-bound free-kick, as the City keeper pushed the ball onto the post before his defenders cleared, as the Grecians bowed out of the competition.

Fulham: Rico, Sessegnon, Chambers, Kebano (De La Torre, 74), Johansen, Fonte, Christie, Mawson (S. Sessegnon 75), Zambo Anguissa, Cisse, Kamara

Subs not used: Fabri, Odoi, McDonald, Mitrovic, Bryan

Booked:

Exeter City: Pym, O’Shea, A. Martin, Tillson, L. Martin (Boateng, 45), Holmes (Sparkes, 55), Jay, Oates, Abrahams (Taylor, 68), Croll, Collins

Subs not used: Hamon, Sweeney, Stockley, Hartridge

Booked: Collins, O’Shea, Abrahams

Attendance: 9,333 (Inc, 1,471, away)