Re-joining Exeter on loan 'perfect' for Hartridge

Alex Hartridge has started each of Exeter's last five League One matches

Alex Hartridge says returning to Exeter City on loan has been "perfect" for him.

The 25-year-old Wycombe Wanderers centre-back re-joined the Grecians in January having left his boyhood club last summer.

Hartridge scored three goals in 154 appearances for Exeter between November 2017 and April 2024 before moving to Adams Park as a free agent ahead of this season.

But he struggled to break into Wycombe's side, making just six appearances in League One and playing in eight cup ties.

"It seemed to be perfect for everything really," he told BBC Radio Devon about when he was asked about his return to St James Park.

"It was the right football option to me and it's my club, so it made so much sense.

"It was the first time away from home and from here and I found some things really easy, found some things really difficult, and learnt a lot about myself and football.

"I'm obviously disappointed about how much I played, but it's also really good to be part of a team that are doing so well so that's a double-edged sword.

"But I've experienced so much and hopefully I can go back from this loan spell and do even more."

Hartridge's return to Exeter came as the Grecians tried to shore up their defence.

Tristan Crama returned to parent club Brentford before joining Championship side Millwall on loan after an impressive spell at Exeter, while fellow central defenders Jonly Yfeko and Pierce Sweeney have suffered long-term injuries.

Hartridge was joined by centre-backs Angus MacDonald and Ed Turns, who joined on a permanent basis on transfer-deadline day.

Exeter have won just once in League One since Boxing Day, with their makeshift defence seen as a major factor in their poor form.

But Hartridge feels that a more settled backline will help turn results around - they ended their winless streak with a 1-0 victory at Cambridge United last month.

They have drawn their last two games and kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw at Reading on Tuesday - a side who are unbeaten in seven matches.

"I think probably that experience of the guys playing without recognised defenders and being on the end of some tough results has probably led to everyone's performances changing," Hartridge said.

"The way people play and the confidence has probably suffered from that, but I think probably Tuesday can show that we're building something again, hopefully in results as well as performances.

"It feels like we're building a solid base that we can play from."