Grecians welcome a break after gruelling spell
EXETER City’s ‘out on their feet’ players will be given a couple of days off before looking to bounce back when they face promotion rivals Tranmere Rovers next weekend.
The Grecians have a rare midweek off - one that is their only free midweek bar the Easter weekend double header until the final week of the season.
It will be a chance to City’s players to switch off and refresh themselves after the stoppage time 1-0 defeat to Cheltenham Town on Saturday - and then to try and strike a blow in the promotion race at Prenton Park.
Rovers will play twice before next weekend’s clash - the 2021 EFL Trophy final against Sunderland yesterday and then Grimsby Town tomorrow - with City hoping the week of rest will help them against the side sitting fifth in the table.
Centre-back Alex Hartridge said: “We are looking forward to a bit of downtime and switching off, a couple days off, and then recharge for a Saturday-Tuesday finish until the end of the season.
“It’s another big one next and Tranmere picked up since we played them here (and beat them 5-0) but we will be looking to do the same at their place.”
Manager Matt Taylor, after the Cheltenham Town defeat, added: “The lads are out on their feet at the end and it was maybe a game that lacked quality in certain areas.
“Some players will get some days off, the others will need to do some work, and then we will accelerate into Tranmere. We will put the disappointment to one side, have a couple of days off, and then go to Tranmere and look to win.
“We will need to freshen it up and keep making changes and rotating and putting players in and out, and maybe the ones who have got the goals and hurt the opposition just didn’t have the legs today. We’ll have a few days off, do some work hard Tuesday, do the preparation on Wednesday and Thursday and then go up there ready for a difficult game.”
The Grecians looked to be on course for a fourth clean sheet in a row - something not achieved in 18 months - until Andy Williams rose highest to head home a Ben Tozer long throw in stoppage time to give the Robins a 1-0 win and keep them top of the table.
Taylor added: “We’ve only missed one point as we weren’t good enough to win the game.”
RYAN Lowe wants Plymouth Argyle’s 21-year-old wing-back Ryan Law to use his one-month loan to Torquay United to ‘show us what he has got.’
The Kingsteignton-born leftsided defender has signed for the National League promotion hopefuls, who have slipped down to third place in the table.
It will see Law link up with another young Argyle prospect, midfielder Adam Randell, who has been on loan since the start of October.
Randell has made a success of his time at Plainmoor, leading to him getting an extended Argyle contract until the summer of 2022. Now Lowe hopes that Law who has made four first team appearances for the Pilgrims this season - can make a similar positive impact for Gary Johnson’s Gulls.
Law had a brief loan spell at National League South side Chippenham Town earlier this term before their campaign was halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lowe said: “Ryan has been fantastic around the place, he has just been limited with game time.
“He went out on loan at Chippenham and played a few games, but we wanted to get him to National League level where we knew the season would be continuing.
“It’s a great opportunity for him to go and do what Adam Randell has done.
“There’s a couple of months left of the season, and I have said to Ryan to go out and perform to the best of his ability and show us what he has got.
“I’m pleased for Ryan, he has worked ever so hard to try and get himself in the first team.
“He has been around the squad all season, his attitude and application have been different class, and it’s just about playing some football now. Hopefully it’s a good loan spell for him.”
Law could make his Gulls’ debut in their game away to Maidenhead United tonight.