'We can be better', says Exeter boss after Rotherham win

Exeter players mobbed Caleb Watts after his second-half goal against Rotherham

Gary Caldwell says his Exeter City side can still get better after beating Rotherham United 1-0 on the opening day of the season.

The Millers, who were relegated form the Championship last season, are one of the the favourites to gain promotion this term.

But Caleb Watts' second-half goal ensured a winning start to the season for the Grecians.

"I said to the players I still think we can be better," Exeter manager Caldwell told BBC Radio Devon.

"There were still areas of our play that were a little bet clunky, that understanding's not quite there and that cohesiveness to the team, but that's to be expected because of the time they've had together.

"So we will keep building through the many weeks and months ahead and also try and get players back from injury, but also more players in the building to support the squad that we have as well."

Academy record comes to an end

Nineteen-year-old academy graduate Pedro Borges came off the bench to play against Rotherham

The win saw a long-standing Exeter City record come to an end as they failed to start an academy graduate in a game for the first time in eight years.

The club's much-admired academy - which has produced the likes of Ollie Watkins and Ethan Ampadu - had had a graduate in the starting line up for each of the previous 479 games.

But injuries to Sonny Cox and Jake Richards left just Pedro Borges and Cheick Diabate as ex-academy players in the first-team squad.

Over the past two years, experienced ex-academy players such as Matt Jay, Josh Key, Alex Hartridge, Archie Collins and Jack Sparkes have either been sold or left the club at the end of their contracts.

"It's a big blow for me that that run has come to an end, but all good things must come to an end at some point and now it's about that next run," Caldwell said.

"We still have academy players in the squad, we will continue to do that and hopefully the next generation can get there quickly because we've sold and lost a lot of academy graduates over the last six months to 18 months.

"That has been no fault of mine or the football club's, we've done everything we can to try and keep these players but at some point they have to leave.

"But it has to be winning first. We can't just do it because it's something we do, we always want academy players, but they have to earn the right to play.

"When Pedro, an academy graduate, was called upon he was ready, which was great to see."