City boss ‘tearing his hair out’ at sloppy goals
EXETER City boss Matt Taylor was left ‘tearing his hair out’ after another ‘sloppy and cheap’ early goal saw them go down 1-0 at Carlisle United.
Lewis Alessandra’s strike in the ninth minute was all that separated the two sides on Saturday at Brunton Park, and in a game of limited quality it was the only effort on target.
The goal came after Alessandra broke an offside trap and found Omari Patrick with the cross. City missed chances to clear the ball and when Patrick put the ball back across goal, the ex-Plymouth Argyle man was unmarked to volley home.
Neither goalkeeper had a save to make, and while the Grecians had plenty of possession, they could not capitalise.
The loss means that City have now won just two of their last 11 games and stay outside the play-off spots
Ryan Bowman did put the ball in the back of the net, only to see it ruled out following a very late flag from the linesman for offside, while Taylor felt his side should have had a penalty in the second half for a foul on Nicky Law.
“Large parts of the performance was what we needed, but the start is the key and to not go behind,” Taylor said.
“It was a goal out of nothing, something we have spoken about too much this season, and I am looking for answers to stop the sloppy and cheap early goals and we need more creation in the final third.
“It was never going to be a game to create a lot of clear cut opportunities for both teams and we had certain moments where we didn’t quite execute around their box and we didn’t put enough quality ball into the box.
“When go behind and the game is a war of attrition and you are searching for a bit of quality, luck or a decision to go your way, and we had none of the three I’m afraid.”
On Bowman’s disallowed goal, which came after he poked in a Law shot, although Pierce Sweeney who created the chance should have taken off the effort himself, Taylor said: “I think Ryan is offside but it is difficult to take as not given by the linesman straight away, but we should have scored the first chance. It was one of the few moments we had, and Ryan has put it in, but the offside flag went up.
“I am more disappointed with the penalty on Nicky Law that wasn’t given. I said to the referee anywhere else on the pitch he gives that free kick, just because in the box, it should be no different.”
On the goal that they conceded, Taylor added: “You can only say so much and I have changed the personnel in the backline to look for solutions. But it’s the same goal with the centre halves not willing to go with a runner, but we still had the opportunity to clear the ball.
“That’s just where we are at the moment. Those bits and pieces are going against us and we are short of the real oomph and quality to get us back into the game.
“We have gone behind so many times and often come back, and wasn’t for the want to trying, as we stood up to a physical side without really having the answer in terms of quality in the final third.”
Up next, as part of a run of nine games in 28 days, is a trip to Stevenage tomorrow night, who City beat 3-1 last weekend.