CAM THE MAN

Cool Brannagan spot on at the double

LIAM MANNING praised Oxford for winning ugly.

Ruben Rodrigues headed in an early opener from Kyle Edwards’ cross, before Cameron Brannagan sealed victory with two late penalties following fouls on Rodrigues and then Josh Murphy by City captain Will Aimson.

Exeter had chances to level before Brannagan’s double, notably when Yanic Wildschut was denied by a post, but the hosts dug in to grind out victory.

Manning said: “I was pleased most of all with the clean sheet.

“On a day when we didn’t manage the game like we’d want to, we showed a different side, in being able to block and being able to defend well.

“Sometimes there’s a little bit of snobbery in football around what it should look like and what people want to see. Across the course of a season you’re never always going to play at the highest level you can.

“I’ve just said to the players, it’s a nice feeling to not necessarily be as we were in other games, but to win. Against Cambridge and Port Vale we played well, but ended up losing the game.

“We could have controlled the ball better, but we showed a great togetherness and a great resilience.

“And the physicality – I thought the physical output was outstanding, which is credit to them and the staff for the work that’s done every day. You can only put in a shift like that if you’re in peak condition and train properly. I’m proud of the players because I thought they really showed what they are about as a group and as people.

“For me it felt like quite a big moment in terms of finding a different way to win which in the past we maybe haven’t done. That shows the progress in the game.

Exeter manager Gary Caldwell felt his side looked “a bit toothless”.

He said: “Second half we were in total control, but we didn’t penetrate enough or create enough chances.

“The longer the game went on, we left ourselves vulnerable to counterattacks which Oxford punished us with.

“It’s a game we need to learn from, but overall I didn’t think it was a 3-0 game. There were moments that went against us and we have to dust ourselves down and go again.

“We were playing without a recognised number nine, which gave us a problem.”