Sweeney driven by pain of City’s play-off agonies
HAVING suffered three League Two play-off final heartbreaks at Wembley, Pierce Sweeney is desperate to make sure there is no chance of a fourth this season.
Having come off the bench in 2017, and started the 2018 and 2020 finals, the Irishman has come close on three occasions to helping Exeter City to promotion.
The trio of losses all hurt, and while playing at the home of football is a career highlight, it is not one Sweeney wants to have to repeat this season. And with City lying second in the League Two table, and needing just 17 points from the final seven games to mathematically secure promotion, it is looking more and more likely he may get his wish.
Saturday’s 1-0 win at Newport County was the latest triumph for City who are now unbeaten in seven, and have lost just one of their last 17 League Two games. There are seven games to go, including big ‘six-pointers’ with rivals Tranmere Rovers, Northampton Town and Port Vale the latter on the final day - but Matt Taylor’s men are in pole position to finally make it to League One.
“The mindset has to be that until it is mathematically secure, we cannot take the foot of the pedal,” Sweeney said. “We are in a fantastic position and if you were to ask anyone at the club if we were to be in this position, we would have taken the fingers and hands off it.
“We are in a really good position, but have got a couple of big games still left to play, so a little bit to go, and we are not quite done yet.
“When you go on a 20 game unbeaten run and then another run like now, it is easier than being in a relegation battle. The mood is good and positive, we are all in a good place with our games, and as a collective playing well as a team.
“We perhaps have had a bit of luck and in previous years, the luck has gone against us, but it is all going right for us at the moment.”
Sweeney is the only member of the Grecians squad who has featured in all three play-off final defeats - captain Matt Jay was a substitute in 2018, while Nigel Atangana, Archie Collins and Jack Sparkes are the only players who remain and featured in the behind-closed-doors 2020 defeat to Northampton. And the 27-yearold feels that with a squad less burdened by the historical defeats, that could be helpful in ensuring it is a different end to the campaign in 2022.
“We have a few lads who have had success in play-offs and that is a different scale of experience on that side,” Sweeney said. “We’ve experienced the losses - and I don’t want to be in the play-offs.
“As good and as nice for the club and to play on TV and at Wembley, I have been on the dark side and it’s not a nice place to be, so I want to be in the top three and am making sure the players don’t want the play-offs either.
“We have had some strong squads in the past and the league this year is competitive but competitive where teams lose and have been inconsistent. It is keeping two or three promotion spots available with Forest Green the only team that showed the consistency and even they have had a bit of a dip.
“We have a young and hungry squad. The young lads are not thinking about what is at stake and promotion and that is working in our favour.”
The Grecians lie second in the table as the season enters the closing stages, and while Taylor has been trying to play down the title chances, it is not unfeasible that the trophy could be coming to St James Park.
Sweeney is hoping to ideally get the promotion achieved before the final day when promotion rivals Port Vale head to St James Park.
“We have hit really good form at a good time and the Barrow game might work to the advantage to take three points at the late stage of the season on a Tuesday night,” he said. “That could be vital. It is in our hands, we have some bigger away games with the teams around us, and have work to do, but we want to get as much done as early as possible before it can go to the last game of the season.
“The fans are important. When pushing for promotion, it is always important for a good backing. The Exeter fans travel really well and in numbers, and it is a fair old way from anywhere, so all credit for spending the hard earned money. We hope we can pay them back with a promotion at the end of the season.”