Taylor’s bad injury mars fine Exeter win

EXETER City are facing a midfield injury crisis after suffering two blows during their 2-0 win at Oldham Athletic that took them up to second in the League Two table, writes Daniel Clark.

Kyle Taylor, who scored his first goal for the Grecians to break the deadlock, was stretched off midway through the second half with a serious looking knee injury.

Tim Dieng, meanwhile, was taken off at half time with a hamstring issue that looks likely to put him on the sidelines for tomorrow’s trip to Port Vale

With Harry Kite still yet to return to training after his groin injury, and Nigel Atangana out for the next three games after his stoppage time sending off, City are down to just one fit midfielder in Archie Collins - and suddenly have only 16 senior professionals available.

Taylor’s injury was a real shame after the 22-year-old, making his first league start in four months, had put together what was probably his best performance since the summer arrival from Bournemouth and had reacted quickest to head home the opening goal.

“It doesn’t look good,” boss Matt Taylor said. “When there is no contact it never looks good, and the studs caught in the turf and he has turned one way and the knee got locked in the opposite direction, so it is a serious injury of some sort there. It is a real shame as he was playing well and got his goal.

“He is not in too much pain now so we will get him assessed and scanned, but first impressions are more than likely not good.”

On Dieng, Taylor said: “He has a tight hamstring. We hope there is no strain but we will only know in the next few days. It probably rules him out of Tuesday and then a race against time for the following week against Stevenage.

“It is a real shame to lose two with injury and a suspension. I am racking my brain for the potential to bring players back from loans, seeing who is available, and right now, we don’t have enough bodies for the bench.”