Grecians ‘must earn the right’ to be giantkillers

Caldwell knows Exeter must tighten up at the back if they are to progress in FA Cup

EXETER City manager Gary Caldwell says his side must earn the right to be giantkillers in the third round of the FA Cup, by winning today’s second round clash at League One rivals Oxford United.

The Grecians won an epic first round clash 3-2 at another League One rival, Port Vale, at the start of the month, but the second round draw gave them another tough clash against a side that have already beaten the Grecians 4-2 this season.

If Exeter are to reach round three, where the giants of English football enter the draw, then they must overcome the odds once more and see off an Oxford side that sit two places and a point below them in the league table, but are unbeaten in their last seven league and cup matches.

“It was part of the talk that I gave to the players in the first round, you have to earn the right to be in with the big boys and have that opportunity to be a giantkiller,” Caldwell (pictured) said.

“I think, every year, the FA Cup throws up one or two clubs that go on a journey and wins some big games and it’s what makes the FA Cup so special. Every year you have that and I challenged the players to put us in round two, to give us that opportunity, and that will be the message again on Saturday.”

Key to Exeter getting anything form today’s game will be how they perform defensively. Having been hit hard by defensive absentees, the Grecians have struggled to keep goals out with ten conceded in their last four matches.

The Grecians are boosted by the return of Cheick Diabate and Jonathan Grounds now and Caldwell is confident that will help City be more miserly.

“I think there are a number of reasons for that,” Caldwell said. “I go over every single game this season and at the end of Matt’s reign, the team conceded seven goals. During Kev’s reign, the team conceded 14 goals in six games and since I’ve come in, we have conceded ten in five.

“At the start of the season, there was a real stability to the team, there were less injuries and they had that feel-good factor of League Two, but I think we are starting to feel the levels required coming into League One and we are finding that out now.

“The team has also been disrupted with the back players by injuries, which has caused that lack of continuity in the line-up and how we play, so this isn’t something which has just happened, it was happening at the end of Matt’s reign and it’s still continuing to happen.

“I think, with the work that we are doing on the training pitch, and with players coming back from injury, then I am very confident that the goals we are conceding will reduce significantly.”

Diabate’s return especially will give the Grecians a dominant, physical presence in their backline and Caldwell said: “He’s had another full week’s training. He obviously got on the pitch for the last bit of last week’s game, but he’s a player I am delighted to get back in as he gives us that strength and stability at the back. He will be a big part of the team moving forward.”