Western Morning News (Saturday)
Taylor urges City to make Park a ‘fortress’
EXETER City have the chance to get back to home winning ways against early season frontrunners Cambridge United this afternoon, with manager Matt Taylor challenging his players to turn St James Park into a fortress once more.
Prior to their first home league game against Port Vale two weeks ago, the Grecians had lost only nine of 41 league encounters at St James Park with eight of those coming in the 2018/19 season. Their sole defeat on home turf last season came against Grimsby Town but, this season, it is played one, lost one on home turf after the disappointing defeat to the Valiants
“You just want to remain unbeaten in all aspects – home or away – and keep picking up points,” Taylor said. “We see this weekend as an opportunity to pick up points and so is the following week and so on and so forth.
“The players are in a good mindset. They have to be sensible in what they do in the next few days but they have been there and done it in terms of what to expect at our home stadium now, we have seen it enough times to know what to expect.
“We are really looking forward to this weekend because we are welcoming the team top of the league and you always want to challenge yourself against the best.”
Away from the St James Park, City are unbeaten with the season-opening 2-2 draw at big-spending Salford City followed by a magnificent 2-1 win at another League Two big spender, Mansfield Town, last time out.
That win should give the Grecians plenty of confidence and the belief that they are more than capable of competing against the best in the division.
“We have had two really good performances away from home and we were disappointed with a below par performance at home, but that happens in football,” Taylor said.
“They gained a lot of confidence from the Salford game as well and there was a lot of unknown before that game. But then we didn’t perform well in the Port Vale game and we have to hold our hands up and be honest about that.
“The fact that we dominated for such large periods last week is the most pleasing factor and that was a deserved victory. I don’t think anyone that was present could deny that fact so we were convincing winners, despite the narrow scoreline.
“We are building and working towards where we want to get to, but it is all about performance and that was a really good performance last weekend.”
Today’s game marks the start of a run that will see City play eight league and EFL Trophy games in October as the new season enters its first gruelling spell.
It is sure to test the resolve, quality and strength in depth of the City squad and the first test could not be much harder against a Cambridge team that has won two and drawn one of their opening three league games, scoring eight goals in the process and conceding none.
“They have started this season really well,” Taylor said. “It’s a new manager and a new set of players, although we know a few from being around League Two a little while.
“I think they walloped Morecambe away 5-0, beat Carlisle at home 3-0 and drew 0-0 with Tranmere last weekend, they also beat Birmingham in the (Carabao) Cup, so they are top of the league for a reason and have some dangerous players.
“But we are at home and you have to back yourself at home. You have to make the running and dictate the play as best you can but we are on the back of a confidence building performance last weekend.
“I think we have eight games in October and another seven the month after, so the games are coming thick and fast now.
“In the next few weeks, the team will certainly change, depending on the opposition and depending on how personnel are reacting and performing.”