Match ends, Exeter City 5, Notts County 1.
Exeter City 5-1 Notts County: Harry Kewell sent off in first league game as boss
- From the section League Two
New Notts County manager Harry Kewell says he was shown a red card for saying "well done" to the referee during his side's 5-1 League Two hammering by Exeter City.
The former Liverpool and Leeds United forward, taking charge of his first league game since joining from Crawley Town, was sent off in the aftermath of the Grecians' fourth goal.
Kewell felt aggrieved that his side were not awarded a penalty for handball after Exeter had earlier won a spot-kick for the same offence.
"I just said 'well done' to the referee," he told BBC Radio Nottingham. "You can see ones in the far corner but not ones right in front of you.
"We have a cross and it's one of those - does it hit his hand or does it not? The referee says no, we're complaining and they go up the other end and score a goal. That's when I got my marching orders."
County, who had taken just one point from their first six games, fell behind when Pierce Sweeney headed in Lee Holmes' corner.
Jayden Stockley slotted in City's second soon after, but Enzio Boldewijn fired into the top corner for Notts just before half-time.
County could not build on the goal, though, as second-half efforts from Sweeney, Stockley and Aaron Martin earned Exeter a first win in three games.
"I'm not happy," added Kewell. "I'm frustrated because I knew what Exeter were going to bring. They changed their whole team up to suit how we play."
Line-ups
Exeter
- 1Pym
- 2Sweeney
- 5MartinBooked at 49mins
- 21Moxey
- 3WoodmanSubstituted forCrollat 50'minutes
- 25Taylor
- 44BoatengSubstituted forMartinat 79'minutes
- 6Tillson
- 8Law
- 10HolmesBooked at 33minsSubstituted forJayat 89'minutes
- 11Stockley
Substitutes
- 4O'Shea
- 7Martin
- 13Hamon
- 17Jay
- 19Abrahams
- 23Croll
- 24Ogbene
Notts County
- 1Fitzsimons
- 12Oxlade-ChamberlainSubstituted forPatchingat 69'minutes
- 16Brisley
- 19Ward
- 24Milsom
- 11BoldewijnBooked at 68mins
- 8VaughanBooked at 56mins
- 4Hewitt
- 10ThomasBooked at 15minsSubstituted forSteadat 45'minutes
- 15Hemmings
- 9DennisSubstituted forAlessandraat 59'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Alessandra
- 18Hawkridge
- 20Patching
- 21Davies
- 30Stead
- 33Dunn
- 40Culverwell
- Referee:
- Neil Hair
- Attendance:
- 3,916
Match Stats
Home TeamExeterAway TeamNotts County
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home8
- Away10
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Exeter City 5, Notts County 1.
Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Elliott Ward.
Goal!
Goal! Exeter City 5, Notts County 1. Aaron Martin (Exeter City) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Pierce Sweeney with a cross.
Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Robert Milsom.
Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Shaun Brisley.
Substitution
Substitution, Exeter City. Matt Jay replaces Lee Holmes.
Foul by Jake Taylor (Exeter City).
David Vaughan (Notts County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Elliott Ward.
Attempt missed. Jon Stead (Notts County) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Corner, Notts County. Conceded by Christy Pym.
Corner, Notts County. Conceded by Christy Pym.
Attempt saved. Enzio Boldewijn (Notts County) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Attempt blocked. Enzio Boldewijn (Notts County) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Exeter City. Lee Martin replaces Hiram Boateng.
Jake Taylor (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Will Patching (Notts County).
Goal!
Goal! Exeter City 4, Notts County 1. Jayden Stockley (Exeter City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nicky Law with a cross.
Foul by Hiram Boateng (Exeter City).
Elliott Ward (Notts County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Lewis Alessandra (Notts County) header from the right side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the right.
Substitution
Substitution, Notts County. Will Patching replaces Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Booking
Enzio Boldewijn (Notts County) is shown the yellow card.
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Pierce Sweeney (Exeter City) right footed shot is close, but misses to the left. Pierce Sweeney should be disappointed.
Penalty conceded by Enzio Boldewijn (Notts County) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Luke Croll (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Elliott Hewitt (Notts County).
Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Ross Fitzsimons.
Substitution
Substitution, Notts County. Lewis Alessandra replaces Kristian Dennis.
Goal!
Goal! Exeter City 3, Notts County 1. Pierce Sweeney (Exeter City) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Penalty conceded by Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain (Notts County) with a hand ball in the penalty area.
Corner, Exeter City. Conceded by Ross Fitzsimons.
Attempt saved. Lee Holmes (Exeter City) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner.
Booking
David Vaughan (Notts County) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Hiram Boateng (Exeter City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by David Vaughan (Notts County).
Attempt blocked. Jon Stead (Notts County) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Elliott Ward (Notts County) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high following a corner.