Exeter's young squad hailed after memorable FA Cup win

Exeter City manager Matt Taylor hailed his young side's 'exuberance' after they beat League One leaders Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup.The Grecians, who were relegated to the fourth tier in May, were 2-1 winners in west Yorkshire as they continued their excellent recent form in the FA Cup.The victory saw them progress beyond the first round for the eighth time in 10 seasons.Charlie Cummins' late goal secured the win after Jack Taylor's opener had been cancelled out by Huddersfield's Cameron Humphreys."We haven't got the experience, we haven't got the knowledge, we haven't got the depth, but there was an exuberance of youth out there and an energy of youth," Taylor told BBC Radio Devon."Even when they equalised there was not a backwards step taken."You look at our bench, we've got the youngest squad in League Two, but what we've done today without our captain, our vice-captain, our senior players - six or seven of them - and to put in a performance like that I'm so, so happy for everyone involved."Huddersfield Town 1-2 Exeter CityExeter can 'rise to the occasion' in FA Cup - ColeExeter reached the third round last year before being thrashed 10-1 by Manchester City at the Etihad, while in 2024-25 they made it to the fourth round. Having beaten then-Championship side Oxford United, they took Nottingham, Forest - at the time third in the Premier League - to a penalty shootout at St James Park before ultimately coming up short. "Until the Championship and Premier League clubs come in at the third round, we will not have a tougher test than Huddersfield away," added Taylor."So whoever we play we'll go there and give it everything we've got just like we've done today. But right now, let's enjoy this moment."It is the latest good result by an Exeter side that have produced an excellent upturn in performances.Having won just one of their first eight League Two games, they were only one point above the relegation zone.But since the start of October, the Grecians have lost just once in eight in all competitions - a late 2-1 defeat at League Two leaders Salford City last week and have moved up to within a point of the play-off places.Taylor said the result at Huddersfield shows how far his side have come since the start of the season."This hasn't been a game where we've come and sat in and defended our box and held on for dear life and rode our luck and our keepers made a load of saves," he added."No, this was a proper game of football. It was two good teams going at each other, and for their fans, to clap us off the pitch speaks volumes."There's been times this season when we've gone across in pain, not performing well, no real rhythm, no confidence, no connection with our fans."To be able to go over there and repay them with the performance, but to show what we're all about and where we can get to as a football club, this just builds what we're trying to do."Listen to Exeter City content on BBC SoundsAll the latest Exeter City news