Vil Sinisalo’s brilliant save ensures another clean sheet and highlights Exeter City defensive improvements

Exeter City were indebted to goalkeeper Vil Sinisalo for a stunning save in stoppage-time to ensure they came away from their clash with Blackpool with a point. The Grecians were the better of the two sides at St James Park, and had the chances to come away with the victory.

The game finished 0-0, but the Tangerines looked like they were going to steal it at the end. When City gave the ball away from a throw-in, the visitors broke, and the ball found its way to Matt Virtue who was one on one with Sinisalo. But the Aston Villa loanee covered the ground and spread himself big and wide and brilliantly blocked the shot.

Having not kept a clean sheet in the final ten games of last season, it is now two clean sheets in two League One outings to start this season for City. And in neither game have the Grecians looked like giving a goal away – with manager Gary Caldwell, himself a former centre back, pleased with the defensive improvement this season – with Alex Hartridge having been given man-of-the-match in the two League One fixtures so far.

“It was an area we needed to improve and we are a far more robust team,” Caldwell said. “We had a clear out of possession plan which we carried out to the letter. We are playing with passion, desire and energy and it’s great to see.

“We restricted them to just three shots on goal. The plan and preparation is good, but we cannot switch off for moments, but in general, our defending has been very good.

“We gave them the opportunities but Vil made an outstanding save. He covers about eight yards to narrow the angle. One vs one he is superb and he has dug us out and a poor moment from us from our throw in. When we scouted him, that was an attitude we felt if we were aggressive and got done on the counter, he had that ability, and he has got us that point today.”

Jack Aitchison had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, before the Scot pounced on a defensive error, but couldn’t get the shot away when clean through on goal as the best chances for Exeter. Sinisalo was rarely tested, but the Finn was called upon late on, made an outstanding save in stoppage-time to ensure the clash finished goalless.

“We were solid throughout the game and kept another clean sheet which is good for us boys at the back,” the 21-year-old said. “There were a few moments where the pass wasn’t good enough but had chances to nick it, but we have to get rid of things at the end where they had a chance from us doing something silly, but it was a positive point

“We were up for the challenge all the way through. We are a tough team to play against, they had plenty of quality but we gave a good account of ourselves and arguably should have nicked it, but perhaps a point a fair result.

“I thought we would have been hard done by had we conceded. They are a good side and will do well but we stood up to it. We will take the point and move on. It could have been three but could have been zero. We have four points from two games and then have another test on Tuesday.”

That test on Tuesday sees the Grecians back on the road when they travel to another of the promotion favourites in Portsmouth. The clash at Fratton Park kicks off at 8pm and is live on Sky Sports.