Performances are a must for Exeter boss in Trophy tie
EXETER City manager Matt Taylor has warned some of his players that ‘they need a performance’ as they take on Cheltenham Town in the Papa John’s Trophy tonight.
The Grecians extended their unbeaten run to nine in all competition on Saturday with a 2-2 draw with Walsall, but too many players were below bar and City were arguably lucky to come away with a point given their first half efforts.
After losing the penalty shoot-out to Chelsea’s U21s in their first game in the group, City sit third in the table, and with the League One Robins having been beaten by Bristol Rovers in their opener, both teams will need the win to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive.
But despite Exeter being unbeaten in nine, having lost just once in 12 (and one in 18 dating back to last season), and making it 13 without defeat since the loss to Cheltenham in March at home, Taylor was unimpressed with the performance on Saturday and felt that the Grecians got away with it.
Having made two changes at halftime, with Harry Kite and Pierce Sweeney hooked, Taylor admitted post-match that he wanted to make more, and that he could have made changes even earlier. He added that, bar Sam Nombe, who scored his third in three games, the attacking unit was poor.
With many of the Grecians’ fringe players and youngsters having gone out on loan in search of regular men’s football – Ben Seymour and Jordan Dyer moving to Yeovil Town for a month being the latest – a stronger than usual eleven may take the field at the Johnny Rocks stadium.
“Some players need a good performance and it is another opportunity for them,” Taylor said. “If I am making subs at half-time then some of them will play, and some players need a performance. That is not a threat in any way but players need a performance.”
City have played 3-4-3 this season in every game, but switched to a 4-23-1 at half-time on Saturday, having done the same against Sutton United two weekends ago after a similarly flat first-half, and the manager indicated that a change of system could be explored.
“We will treat it as a proper game, but it is a bit of a free hit to see how personnel can react,” he added.
“We have been resolute where we need to be, but teams are dictating to us a bit too much. It may be a shape issue, maybe a formation, maybe personnel, but we will try and address it.”
The Grecians are likely to make changes, with Colin Daniel hoping to make his debut, while Josh Coley could start for the first time after his 45 minutes off the bench.
Harry Lee is likely to start in goal, while Jonathan Grounds and Padraig Amond also will be hoping for starting berths. Archie Collins could make his first start of the season as he continues to recover from his knee injury.
Sweeney and Kite, having been taken off at half-time on Saturday, may get a chance to redeem themselves and feature from the off, while both Matt Jay and Jevani Brown, who Taylor said were ‘poor’, could also be given another run-out. Sixteen-yearold hotshot striker Sonny Cox will probably be involved a matchday squad for the first time.
Kyle Taylor, after a positive Covid19 test, will still be in self-isolation and unavailable, while Owura Edwards-Owura missed the game with Walsall with illness - but despite having Covid-19 symptoms, had returned a negative test, so the Bristol City loanee, if feeling better, could feature.
Victory for City would see them go to the top of the group, but Michael Duff ’s Robins will be looking for three points themselves after four defeats in a row – and three games without a goal – and they will be boosted by the fact Saturday’s scheduled League One clash with Portsmouth has been called-off due to international commitments for Pompey.
Despite Cheltenham being a league above, City players fancy their chances of travelling back with the win, which is what they will be aiming for.
Midfielder Tim Dieng added: “It is a game that we want to win as we want to go far in the competition. It will be a tough game but we have to be ready to compete.”
Meanwhile, Taylor is on a fourman shortlist for the September Manager of the Month award after guilding the Grecians to eight points from four games in the month.
City started September with a goalless draw at home to Forest Green Rovers, but were emphatic 4-0 winners at Scunthorpe United before beating Sutton United 2-0 in their next game.
The month ended with a 1-1 draw at Hartlepool United, which was the only goal they conceded that month.
Taylor is in competition with Darrell Clarke of Port Vale (three wins and nine points from four games), Sutton’s Matt Gray (nine points and three wins from four games) and Leyton Orient’s Kenny Jackett (eight points and two wins from four games.)
No City player was shortlisted for the players’ award.