Exeter manager Gary Caldwell vowed he would fight on despite seeing his side’s winless League One run extend to 11 games with a 1-0 home defeat to Port Vale.
Oliver Arblaster netted the only goal of the game after 29 minutes, while the hosts lost captain Will Aimson to a red card for a second booking at the death.
Exeter have scored only twice in that time and it is evident where their problem lies and, at full-time, a vocal but growing minority made their feelings clear with chants of ‘Caldwell out’.
“It was another frustrating game and it feels like Deja-vu,” he said. “I thought the players gave everything and we were the better team in the game, but we just can’t put it in the back of the net.
“We have to keep going and stick together. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I think it’s a vocal minority.
“The supporters since I’ve been here have been absolutely incredible and a lot of the supporters that stayed at the end are supporting me, the staff and the players.
“We can change the manager, but a new manager is not going to put the ball in the back of the net. I understand the frustration, but we have an opportunity to improve things in January.
“If I sense any negativity from the players on what we are trying to do, then I won’t need the fans to sing for me to go, I’ll know if I have lost the dressing room, or if the club aren’t going in the right direction and I’ll be the first one to go and speak to the board.”
Port Vale scored the only goal of the game on the half-hour mark when Ben Garrity flicked on a near-post corner and Arblaster finished from close range to end an 11-match winless run for the Valiants.
Manager Andy Crosby said: “We knew the importance of this game, given the positions we are both in and the run both teams have been on.
“It wasn’t a vintage performance, we were under pressure for most of the second half and we couldn’t quite get that last pass away but we defended our box with courage, bravery and leadership.
“The conditions played a part. It was windy and blustery and for the fans to travel down here today was great.
“I would like to say a massive thank you and it is about time we rewarded them with three points. It hasn’t been for the want of trying. We are all giving absolutely everything and sometimes small moments win games.
“Sometimes you come out of the right side of them and sometimes you don’t. I am just proud we have been rewarded as a group for sticking to what we believe in.
“Most of the second half we were under the cosh and we defended well. I am not sure how many saves our keeper has had to made but we defended our box well.”
Al-Ahli 1-2 Al-Hilal: Mitrovic double keeps Saudi champions perfect
Aleksandar Mitrovic proved to be the difference once again for Al-Hilal as the reigning Saudi Pro League champions beat Al-Ahli 2-1 on Saturday.
Al-Ahil went in front with 12 minutes played when Gabri Veiga was sent through on goal by Franck Kessie, with the Spaniard rounding Yassine Bounou to open the scoring at King Abdullah Sports City.
The hosts went close to doubling their advantage soon after, with Riyad Mahrez and Ivan Toney going close, before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic saw his effort cleared off the line at the other end.
But parity was restored early in the second half through Al-Hilal's master marksman, as Mitrovic nodded home a trademark header from Renan Lodi's delivery.
Al-Ahil were then awarded a penalty when Rayan Hamed fouled Malcom inside the box, only for Mitrovic to see his effort saved by Abdulrahman Al Sanbi.
However, the Serbian was given the chance to redeem himself after the VAR deemed encroachment had taken place, and he made no mistake at the second time of asking to net his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.
Data Debrief: Mitrovic the main man
Mitrovic has been in fine form since his move to Saudi Arabia, with his latest double taking his tally to 54 goals in as many appearances for Al-Hilal.
This time out, he contributed 1.16 expected goals (xG) tally to the visitors' 2.24 total, while also recording the most touches in the opposition box (six).
Malcom also impressed for Al-Hilal, creating more chances (three) than anyone on the pitch, with his 14 passes into the final third a total only bettered by Ruben Neves (18) and Salem Al Dawsari (15) among his team-mates.
Al-Nassr 3-0 Al-Orubah: Mane double helps hosts close in on leaders
Sadio Mane scored a goal in either half, helping Al-Nassr cruise to a 3-0 win over Al-Orubah and close in on the top two in the Saudi Pro League.
Cristiano Ronaldo had given the hosts the lead from the spot, setting them on their way to a dominant victory.
After a slow start, Jean Seri was penalised for a handball, and Ronaldo made no mistake from the spot. After a stuttering run-up, he coolly slotted his strike into the bottom-left corner.
Mane got his first on the stroke of half-time, latching onto Ronaldo's pull-back before firing his low shot into the far side of the net.
He could have had a hat-trick, having also hit the woodwork and squandered a first-time shot by slicing it wide, but he did get his second in the 71st minute, guiding Nawaf Bu Washi's cross past Gaetan Coucke.
Cristian Tello came closest to a consolation for the visitors, smashing a long-range effort off the crossbar.
Data Debrief: Mane's time to shine
Mane, so far this season, has been providing the spark as a playmaker after registering five assists in Al-Nassr's first five games in the Saudi Pro League.
Today, however, he regained his scoring touch, getting his first two goals of the campaign.
He had the most shots (five), and shots on target (three), as he accumulated 0.97 expected goals (xG), while his seven touches in the box was the most of any player on the field.
Napoli 3-1 Como: Lukaku and McTominay on target to extend hosts' Serie A lead
Romelu Lukaku continued his fine start to life at Napoli as the Belgian notched a goal and two assists in his side's 3-1 win over Como on Friday.
The hosts found themselves ahead with just 26 seconds on the clock when Scott McTominay was picked out by Lukaku, with the Scotland international firing home his first goal for Gli Azzurri off the post.
But Como would draw themselves level two minutes before the break when Gabriel Strefezza's strike from distance rifled into the bottom corner.
However, Antonio Conte's side needed just eight minutes after the interval to restore their advantage when Sergi Roberto brought down Mathias Olivera in the box, with Lukaku stepping up from 12 yards to net his fourth Serie A goal of the season.
Napoli continued to push for a third goal to secure the victory, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia going closest but saw his effort saved by Emil Audero.
But the points were sealed in the 86th minute when Lukaku turned provider once again, holding off his marker before slipping through substitute David Neres who slotted home with a fine finish to extend Napoli's lead at the top of the standings to four points.
Data Debrief: Lukaku continues Conte love story
Lukaku has been a player reborn under Conte's stewardship. The Belgian is the player who has been involved in the most goals in his first five appearances for Napoli in Serie A since the Italian top-flight returned to 20 teams (since 2004/05) with three goals and four assists.
He has also managed to better his assist tally for the whole of last season, managing just three in 32 appearances for Roma last term.
McTominay's goal after 26 seconds is the third-fastest scored by Napoli since the start of a Serie A match in the three points for a win era, after Hirving Lozano's goal against Hellas Verona in 2021 (nine seconds) and Ezequiel Lavezzi's goal against Genoa in 2008 (25 seconds).
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