Western Morning News (Saturday)
City finding life back in League One as expected
AFTER a home defeat to Cheltenham Town last Saturday was followed by a Carabao Cup exit, Exeter City travel to Accrington Stanley today looking to bounce back. Having scored 16 goals in their first five games, the Grecians have been goalless in the past two.
Stanley had the week off after being knocked out of the cup in round one. It is another long trip and City could be without manager Matt Taylor agains, as he is on paternity leave after the birth of his first child.
In Taylor’s absence, assistant manager Wayne Carlisle spoke to the press on Thursday ahead of the game. “Tuesday was a bit of a whirlwind,” he said. “It was an enjoyable and challenging experience. This weekend – I don’t know yet. I have spoken to Matt and he has a bit going on with the new baby – if he does turn up great, if not, we have done the preparation.”
John Coleman’s side may on paper seem like one of the weaker outfits in League One, but this is their fifth season in a row in the third tier. The boss has been in charge since 2014, and Carlisle expects the trip to be a tough one, but one that he feels the Grecians are more than capable of coming away from with three points.
“We have to find the reserves to get up. It will be a good game, they have found their feet in the league, and a good test for us, but if we are at our best, we are a hard team to beat, and if we go there with the confidence of starting the season well, then we are on a good run.”
The trip to Stanley, who sit 12th in the table, a point behind City, will be the sixth outing in the division for the Grecians. Having faced a fellow newly-promoted side (Port Vale), a play-off challenger (MK Dons), newish mid-table outfits (Cambridge United and Cheltenham Town), a side that struggled last season (Lincoln City), the clash against a nowestablished side at this level largely completes the type of opponents City will face this season, and so far, there hasn’t been anything in the division which has been too much of a surprise
“League One has been similar to what we expected,” Carlisle said. “We watched a lot and got a feel for styles of play. We have faced a team in the playoffs, near the bottom, promoted with us, and a team in mid-table.
“After Saturday, we will have a good gauge of all the different dynamics and where we fit. It has been a positive start, nothing that we have not prepared for or we thought ‘we are in trouble here,’ but we are just building confidence and trying to be bolstering the squad at this level.”
Rekeem Harper became the third summer signing on Wednesday when he joined Grecians on a season long loan from fellow League One outfit Ipswich Town. The 22-year-old midfielder is in the squad for the the weekend
“He is one we have been working exceptionally hard on for a few weeks and tracking for some time,” Carlisle added.
“We like the kid, he adds to the midfield dynamic that we have. He gets on the ball and passes the ball, a good physical profile which is helpful for this league, and maybe something we don’t have a huge amount of. We hope he comes here and finds his feet as he is a very good player.”
Bar long-term absentee Kyle Taylor, City expect to have a near-fully fit squad, although Pierce Sweeney will face a fitness test after going off injured in midweek. Jamal Blackman, Alex Hartridge, Jack Sparkes, Archie Collins and Sam Nombe are all expected to start having been on the bench on Tuesday.