Taylor admits Exeter were second best at Tranmere

EXETER City manager Matt Taylor felt his side were ‘second best’ too often as the Grecians slipped to only a second defeat since New Year’s Day.

Goals from Josh Hawkes and Elliott Nevitt towards the end of both halves were enough for Tranmere Rovers to end City’s nine game unbeaten run and seal a 2-0 win.

It was only a second defeat in 20 those for City as the nine match unbeaten run came to an end against a Rovers side with the best home record in

League Two. And despite the loss, defeats for Port Vale and Mansfield Town kept Exeter second in the table and now only needed six points from four games to mathematically achieve automatic promotion.

“There wasn’t too much in the game and both goals came at bad times for us and could have been avoided, and I just felt we were second best a bit too often,” Taylor said.

“We didn’t get the ball where we needed to have it today, there were too many unforced errors, and too many balls bouncing off us.

“I have to look at myself and the team because of the energy aspect but based on recent performances I felt it was the right thing to do. You have to give credit to Tranmere as they have turned us into that, but that was a culmination of what the game did to us and they came out on top of us.

“We started well, Oz hit the bar, it felt even, and the goal came out of the hustle and bustle at the top end of the pitch and put us out of position and then a cutback we could have defended better but it happens.

“We couldn’t gain any control and the moments we got it clean and moved it well we looked like we could threaten but it didn’t happen enough, and full credit to Tranmere.”

Zanzala had hit the crossbar in the 10th minute when the on-loan striker got on the end of a through ball from Archie Collins, but on the stretch, couldn’t keep the effort down, while Sam Stubbs and Cheick Diabate both headed wide from corners before City fell behind.

Jevani Brown and Tim Dieng both missed chances to level it, before the second came ten minutes from time.

Despite the loss though, City’s points target needed for automatic promotion has fallen. Before the clash with Micky Mellon’s men, Exeter needed eight points from five now they need just six from four with games at St James Park against Rochdale and Barrow next up.

“We are still in a good position,” Taylor said. “There was not too much in the game, second goal is one have to defend it better as it is a really cheap one to make it comfortable, but we have a lot to learn off the back of today.

“They put you under pressure, hence their home record, but we look to next week. We cannot lose confidence and have two home games to look forward to.”