Exeter City 2 - Liverpool 2: Smith earns replay for lucky Klopp after Bogdan's howler

BRAD SMITH scored late on to earn Liverpool an FA Cup replay against Exeter City.

 

Brad Smith scored Liverpool's equaliser

 

Jurgen Klopp fielded a weakend side and was immediately made to pay as Tom Nichols gave Exeter an early lead before Jerome Sinclair drew Liverpool level.

The League Two side went into the break ahead afer a howler from Adam Bogdan allowed Lee Holmes to score from a corner but Smith's strike late on saved Klopp's blushes.

Klopp's inexperienced side were put under pressure straight away and in their first attack, Exeter took the lead. 

Jamie Reid's low cross evaded Liverpool's defence and Nichols stretched his leg out to toe-poke the ball into the corner of the net.

 

But after some poor Exeter defending the Reds were immediately back in the match, as Sinclair calmly slotted the ball past Bobby Olejnik. 

After Sinclair's strike Liverpool began to take control of the game but Exeter continued to press and the home side almost took the lead again just before the half-hour.

Christian Ribeiro's low cross broke into the path of David Noble 10 yards out, but the midfielder could only fire the ball over the top. 

The Grecians looked threatening and almost went into the break ahead when Holmes' floating cross found Ribeiro, but his header was sent just wide.

 



Lee Holmes celebrates after scoring from a corner



 

Adam Bogdan's howler allowed Lee Holmes to score

 

But just five minutes later they did take the lead after a howler from Bogdan.

Holmes' swirling corner went straight in at the far post as Bogdan flapped at thin air under pressure from Nichols to send the home side in ahead at half-time.. 

After the break Exeter continued to attack and Ribeiro again went close with a header.

Liverpool were living on thin ice but they gave themselves a lifeline they didn't really deserve with 72 minutes gone.

Smith thumped home after Jordan Moore-Taylor's clearance from Sheyi Ojo's cross fell right at his feet 12 yards out. 

Both sides pushed for a winner in the last 10 minutes, but the Premier League side had to settle for a draw with the League Two outfit.