Loanee uses head to great effect as brains come to fore
Jordan Dyer has proved important in both boxes since arriving on loan from League Two Exeter City last month.
The 21-year-old will be at Twerton Park for the remainder of the campaign and has chipped in with two goals in six outings, with the Romans claiming two clean sheets along the way.
Dyer’s first for the club was eventually credited to him when his header against Hampton & Richmond Borough two weeks ago appeared to cross the line before his travelling partners from Devon, Cody Cooke and Alex Fletcher, could nick a telling touch.
“It was a brilliant car journey home,” laughed Dyer, “Cody’s a striker so he’s going to want the goal.
“But I wasn’t going to say no – the ball was already over the line for sure. It was a brilliant debate.
“Cody used to be my college lecturer. Once I turned to scholar at Exeter he used to take my lessons on Thursdays.
“I remember him well from then and have played against him a couple of times.
“It has helped me settle in knowing a few faces. It was very easy to step into the dressing room and be myself straight away.”
Dyer started his first four matches in the heart of the backline, but a reshuffle has seen him pushed into defensive midfield alongside Joe Raynes.
“It’s been good in there,” said Dyer, “Joe and I complement each other’s game.
“I played central midfield when I was younger. I was turned into a central defender when I was 13-14 just because I was tall. I’ve had the odd game since with Exeter in midfield, a few in under 18s. I know the role pretty well.
“As a team we feel a bit more solid. There’s more clarity on the roles we’re doing.
“We’re using our brains, being hard to beat as well as pressing. Teams are struggling to break us down a lot more.”
Dyer has been on Exeter’s books since he was 10, initially combining with village side Whipton Youth, who were managed by his father.
He’s since made nine appearances for the Grecians either side of loan spells at Bideford, Tiverton, Chippenham and Yeovil, who he represented earlier this season.
His move to Bath was helped with a recommendation from Alex Hartridge, now a highly rated centre-back for Exeter having previously spent the 2019-20 season on loan with Bath, making 41 appearances.
“I know Alex very well,” said Dyer. “I’ll probably be joining him on the Playstation online later.
“I’ve roomed with him in the past. I spoke to him a lot about what Bath are like.
“He helped progress his career by going here and I hope to do the same.”
Dyer has already matched Hartridge’s goal tally from his spell at Twerton Park, and even had the confidence to shoot from kick-off in Saturday’s defeat on penalties to Dartford.
“It’s not like I’d practised shooting from 60 yards before,” he joked. “I didn’t mind doing it – thought I struck it pretty well.
“We were playing down the slope with the wind behind us. Quite often we deliver it forward and press off that – Jerry suggested testing the keeper early doors in those conditions, you never know what might happen.
“We could have been three or four nil up at half-time.
“They had a couple of chances second half – it was tougher for us going up the hill with the wind against us.
“I thought we dealt with the conditions much better than they did. They didn’t create a lot.
“We were disappointed to lose but at the same time we don’t want to get too down about it.
“At some point we’re going to put a team to bed with the way we’re playing. It won’t be a fluke if we win a game comfortably.
“It was the highest ranked team we’ve could have played and we’ve more than matched them.”
Dyer has no complaints about remaining on the club’s books for the next five months.
“Just being out there and playing football again has been brilliant,” he said. “I’m really enjoying it, my teammates and the staff have been very welcoming.
“It feels like we’ve come a long way since I first arrived. We’re striding to go in the right direction and we’re doing well.
“I’d love to help the boys get up the league table. Top ten should be the aim.
“It’s been a sticky start but you can see the quality in the players. We can definitely put ourselves about against the top teams.
“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be up there at the end of the season.”