Aitchison's hard work pays off with FA Cup double

Exeter City forward Jack Aitchison is being backed to score more goals after getting his first double for the club.

The 25-year-old scored twice in the impressive 4-0 FA Cup second round win over Wycombe Wanderers.

The former Celtic youngster, who moved to the Grecians in the summer of 2023, opened the scoring just before half-time and went on to make it 2-0 after the break.

It was just the second time he had scored in all competitions this season and the first time he had found the net outside of the EFL Trophy since March 2024.

"I thought he was outstanding last week at Bradford and and didn't get the kind of attacking opportunities that he got today," manager Gary Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

"The first goal was was incredible, something we've worked on this week when we create the free man in the middle of the pitch which we did with Jack McMillan.

"I'm delighted for him, he knows he needs to score more goals, it's something he's really conscious about and something he worked really hard on.

"I just keep saying to him put yourself in that position, when you run in that position more you will get goals because he is a quality finisher and he showed that today."

Progress into the third round earned Exeter City £79,500 in prize money as well as at least £26,500 in the next match, even if they are beaten.

But it also opened up the chance of a lucrative tie against a top-flight side which could be vital for the club's financial future.

Having overspent last season the club has needed loans totalling around £600,000 from owners the Exeter City Supporters' Trust.

They have also landed the early payment of the sell-on clauses in former youth player Jay Stansfield's move from Fulham to Birmingham City.

The club beat Championship side Oxford United to reach the fourth round last season where they lost on penalties at home to Premier League side Nottingham Forest.

"I always usually say a home draw, but I probably want an away draw this time if it's a big one," added Caldwell on who he would like to face next.

"Last year we got to this round and everyone says 'who do you want to get?'.

"You want a big tie and we ended up with a really difficult game against a Championship team that we won, so as much as you want a big tie we want to go as far as we can in the competition.

"I don't want us to be that team that whoever we get thinks 'oh this is it and it's just about money', football is about winning, football is about memories and creating moments.

"We got Oxford last year, we managed to overcome that and created an amazing night here against [Nottingham] Forest where we were inches away from from getting a victory, so we take whoever we get.

"The big thing is we're in the pot and and we will look forward to that when it comes."