Taylor left delighted by nature of City’s win

EXETER City manager Matt Taylor was left thrilled by the dynamic performance of his side as they thrashed a desperately poor Leyton Orient outfit 4-0 in League Two.

Joel Randall’s first goal since a brace in the 3-2 FA Cup win at Gillingham in November set City on their way in the 11th minute, before Matt Jay’s first career hat-trick sealed a win that took the Grecians up to eighth in the table.

Randall drilled the ball between Lawrence Vigouroux’s legs after being set free by the excellent Ryan Bowman from an acute anglebefiore Jay struck just two minutes later with Vigouroux letting his swerving 25-yarder squirm through his arms.

Jay made it three just before the break, bundling home after Randall hit the post following an outstanding teamn move, that started with Josh key thwarting an attack and superbly bringing the ball out of defence.

Early in the second half, after Randall was tripped in the box, Jay stepped up and slotted home the penalty for his hat-trick, which took his season tally to 16.

With the match wrapped up inside 50 minutes, Taylor was able to rest several players ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Scunthorpe United.

“We started the game better than they did and it was important it showed in the goals,” Taylor said. “There was maybe a bit of luck with the keeper’s mistake for the second and the rebound for the third, but sometimes you can make your own luck and we were on the front foot and were positive. We caught them a bit cold but it was a really good performance and a result for us to build on.

“There was more space for us and it was different game to Tuesday (when City drew 0-0 with Walsall) and there was more space in and around their backline. I wouldn’t want to be defending against the likes of MJ, Joel Randall, Robbie Willmott and the full-backs we have at the moment, but we have to be effective is all circumstances.

“If you score early it affects the way the opposition play and the best performances have been when we have scored early and then there is more space to play in. I was delighted with the first half performance.

Orient came thinking they could hurt us but we caught them cold and we were dynamic in the attack today.

“Joel looked bright today and he will take heart from that. He has been there or thereabouts and at the start of the season, they were going in but he smashed that one in today and grew in confidence.”

On Jay’s hat-trick, Taylor said that his contribution in the final third has never been in doubt, adding: “He has earned what he is this season. He has had to wait his time but he is a top quality player.

“MJ’s contribution is his quality in the final third and when he gets clean ball in the final third he is a threat, but he has added a running aspect which I am really pleased about.”

While not on the scoresheet, Ryan Bowman, back in the side after suspension, was a constant menace in occupying the defence, and Taylor said that this performance shows just why he rates him so highly.

“I’ve been saying it long enough, he allows the others to do what they do,” Taylor said. “He is a presence and we know what Ryan brings to the team. The scoreline when Ryan plays is more often enough a positive one as he brings bodies to the ball and gives us a bit more space for our dynamic attacking players.

“Anyone who has been here this season has seen why we value him so much. Ryan is to the go to guy and he affects the opposition and competes in the air, and it was great to have him back.”

At the other end of the pitch, it was the first time City kept successive clean sheets since January 2020, and Taylor, himself a former centre half, was equally as pleased with how his side defended, with Alex Hartridge and Rory McArdle in particular outstanding.

“It’s as much a positive as the goals,” he said. “The clean sheet is a real plus for us, and Alex and Rory have formed a partnership of youth and experience.

“Alex has a physicality in terms of his legs and his physical prowess and we want him to to believe it as much as we do, and he was up against one of the leading scorers in the league and kept him quiet.

“The headlines are rightly about the attacking performance and the 4-0, and the way we played, but that partnership is getting stronger.”