Jevani Brown continues his fine form as Exeter City jump into third position

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Jevani Brown scored and provided an assist to help Exeter City climb into third position following a 3-1 victory over fellow promotion-chasing rivals Swindon Town.

Brown was nominated for the League Two February Player of the Month award earlier this week and he continued his fine run of form against Swindon where he made it seven goal contributions in his last six appearances for the Grecians.

The goal and assist helped Exeter move from eighth position and into the final automatic promotion spot in the league. The Grecians sit just three points off second, while having two games in hand over their rivals Northampton Town in second.

This has largely been helped by the upturn in form of Brown, who has been instrumental for Exeter during a run of games where they have lost only once in their last 11 matches.

Exeter manager Matt Taylor believed that Brown’s performances earlier in the season are now finally being rewarded in front of goal. Taylor said:

“The first goal is always such a crucial goal at this level and Jevani struck it cleanly despite the deflection.

“Even when he wasn’t scoring in the first half of the season I felt he was very valuable to the team, whether that be through assists or taking control in the final third of the pitch, where he gets control and really kills it dead, he forces defenders to do something a bit different.

“He’s carried on his good form and it is also two in two matches for Matt Jay as well so we know full well that if these players stay in form then it isn’t rocket science these balls will go into the back of the net.

“I thought Jevani’s partnership with Sam Nombe worked well and we had freedom going forward tonight.

“We looked like we could hurt the opposition tonight because there was a willingness to work off the ball thanks to the front three of Brown, Nombe and Jay.”

Votes for the February Player of the Month in League Two are still open and you can vote via the 90Min website.

Exeter’s physical presence causing chaos for opposition defences

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The Grecians were under pressure in the opening 15 minutes of the game and could have been behind had Jonny Williams’ audacious back flick ended up in the net.

However against the run of play, Exeter took the lead thanks to their aerial presence in the box from their side.

Alongside Jevani Brown, the likes of Timothee Dieng, Sam Stubbs and Jonathan Grounds are all well in advance of six-foot and there was a noticeable difference in height between the two sides on the evening.

With a master technician standing over the ball in Archie Collins, the Grecians looked a threat all evening from dead ball scenarios.

That is where the first goal came from, even when Collins doesn’t find his teammates the second ball was latched onto by the goal-happy Brown and tucked into the top-right corner.

Collins then put an exquisite ball into the box for Grounds who powered in at the back post to double their lead.

There could have been more before halftime as Grounds and Stubbs both went close from more set-plays and the Grecians’ boss admitted he has put more emphasis on dead-ball scenarios.

He said:

“I’ve been asking my coaches to make more of our set-pieces because we haven’t made the most of them this season.

“Tonight we did that, the first one from a second ball and then direct from a corner for the second, it is massive because aerially we are a threat.”

Exeter are at home again at the weekend where they welcome Salford City.

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