Taylor is still not content despite another victory
Table-topping Exeter City are urged to be even more ruthless by their manager
MATT Taylor reiterated the need to be more clinical, despite seeing his Exeter City side cruise to a 3-1 League Two win at Carlisle United on Saturday.
Lee Martin gave the Grecians the lead in a first half they dominated, but against the run of play Carlisle equalised through Olofela Olomola.
Rather than wilt, the Grecians kicked on again, with Aaron Martin’s bullet header putting them back in front before Nicky Law finished things off in stoppage time.
Exeter’s manager was delighted with the win by his table-topping team, but he was not happy at allow
ing Carlisle back into the game when his team had been so dominant.
“It was a good performance, [but] I wouldn’t say it was a great performance,” Taylor declared. “With the greatest respect to Carlisle, I would like to have killed them off a lot earlier than we did.
“We created a host of chances, and a lot of good chances as well. Their goalkeeper has got man of the match at the end, and I feel he has not made too many ‘out-of-this-world’ saves. He made a lot of saves with his legs, so we have to be more ruthless in front of goal.
“I’m delighted because I am stood here and we have scored three goals and won 3-1 away from home, but I know how important those moments are,” the Grecians’ boss added. “We got back in front through a set-piece and only really put the game to bed in the 91st minute.
“If we’re going to be successful this season, we’ve got to kill teams off when we are as convincingly on top as we were at times here.”
Taylor’s words may seem a little harsh to some, given the nature of the win and the dominance Exeter enjoyed, but he does have a point.
It was something he touched on in the build-up to the game, and goals have largely been in short supply for the Grecians this season.
However, Taylor’s players deserve immense credit for the way they responded to the setback of Carlisle’s equaliser, as the Cumbrians were level for just six minutes before Aaron Martin put them back in front with a thumping header.
“We changed our shape and toughened ourselves up a bit, and Tom Parkes made a difference when he came on. We were just a bit more streetwise in our game,” Taylor said.
“The space was always going to be there, and I’ve said in previous interviews, it always seems to suit an Exeter City team coming to Carlisle, because it’s a big pitch and it allows us to play good football, but I want us to score simple goals as well as create opportunities when we break through teams.
“That will be the sign of a really good team – when we start killing teams off.”