Exeter City dug deep into their reserves of character to earn an outstanding 1-1 draw at high-flying Stevenage, and they did most of it with ten men.

The Grecians, without a win in 11 games and desperate to find some form ahead of the hectic Christmas schedule, set out their stall in a combative first period, frustrating a home side that could have moved into the automatic promotion places with a victory.

City were on course for a satisfying first 45 minutes when the dynamic of the day completely changed, Jack Aitchison given his marching orders after picking up a second yellow card for dissent.

Exeter barely had time to regroup before they fell behind to a Carl Piergianni header and, given the trauma of recent weeks, the omens were not looking good.

However, the half-time break gave City the opportunity to reorganise and their second half display was full of courage and commitment. Yanic Wildschut was introduced at the break and he took just two minutes to equalise from a Dan Rankine cross.

Incredibly, it was City’s first league goal since October and they were understandably desperate to protect the precious point. The defending was immense from Exeter and Wildschut almost pinched an unlikely second.

City manager Gary Caldwell told the club website: "The effort, the commitment, the character the players showed... we were absolutely outstanding in the second half in terms of working for each other, fighting for each other, fighting for this football club, putting our bodies on the line. 

"We showed quality to counterattack when we were running out of legs... I can't speak highly enough of the players, I thought they were absolutely outstanding and they thoroughly deserved the point.

"The way we defended the box was back to early-season form, we didn't really look like conceding, even down to ten men and facing wave after wave of attack."

City enter the festive period just one place above the relegation spots and they next face a trip to mid-table Cambridge United on Friday evening. Wycombe, who are four points ahead of City, are the visitors on Boxing Day and City complete 2023 with a tough game at home to runaway leaders Portsmouth on December 29.