Tisdale edging closer to the end
DURING the weekend on which Arsene Wenger celebrated 20 years as Arsenal boss, the Football League’s longest-serving manager may have moved a step closer to the end of his tenure.
Despite a narrow defeat at Wycombe – their eighth in 11 league games this term – Paul Tisdale, who has been in charge at St James’ Park for over a decade, promised Exeter fans they will be rewarded if they keep the faith.
But patience appears to be wearing thin with Grecians supporters unfurling a ‘Tisdale Out’ banner before Adebayo Akinfenwa’s 85th-minute chest down and finish condemned them to defeat at Adams Park.
“We’re a quarter into the season and it has been really tough but we will overcome those problems,” insisted Tisdale, whose side are now in the League Two relegation zone.
“We need the supporters but I understand the dissatisfaction. It’s important that those people stay behind the team because this is a supporter-owned club and everyone’s in it together. We have to have that mentality.
“We move to a home game next week. We know how difficult it has been there but we have to get down and do our job.
“When it comes it’ll be great to reward those supporters who have been sticking with us.”
Paul Hayes should have given the hosts the lead after 18 minutes but his header from five yards cleared the bar.
Reuben Reid’s driven 27th-minute shot bounced dangerously in front of Wycombe goalkeeper Jamal Blackman, but otherwise the Chairboys dominated the second period. And with five minutes left, Anthony Stewart’s lofted ball from the left fell straight to Akinfenwa, who turned and smashed the ball past Bobby Olejnik for his second goal since joining the club.
And while Akinfenwa may have notched the winner, Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth was keen to credit his entire team.
“It’s not all about Bayo, the 11 that started the game really ground Exeter and we stopped their chances – Jamal Blackman had one of the easiest days of his career,” he explained.
“I’m glad we got the three points because it was made tougher by Exeter’s set-up – they’ve come to frustrate us and they sacrificed much of their attacking prowess to be solid.
“I asked for patience from the fans and ironically this was a very patient day – we had to wait until the 85th minute.”