TAYLOR KNOWS FEBRUARY IS HUGE FOR CITY
WITH eight games in February, Exeter City skipper Jake Taylor said that it will be a massive month in how the rest of the League Two season pans out.
Starting with the trip to Stevenage last night, the Grecians have eight games in February six of them away - as they look to bounce back from a recent poor run of form that has seen them drop outside the play-off spots.
Having won just two of the last 11 games, City have dropped to ninth, and even winning their games in hand won’t see them rise back into the play-off places.
The Grecians started what could be a defining month away to Stevenage - who the Grecians beat 3-1 just ten days ago - with their opponents on a high after a 95th minute winner on Saturday at Grimsby, which lifted them out of the relegation zone following their first away win in over a year.
Ahead of last night’s game, skipper Taylor said that it was important for City, after backto-back defeat, to try and get some positive momentum going and pick up the three points, just as they did at St James Park last week.
“After a couple of disappointing results it’s nice to have another game straight away,” he said. “We are aware of their strengths and after picking up three points against them last time, we are looking to do so again on Tuesday.
“There are eight games this month and a few good wins can shoot you up the table. It’s a massive month for us as if you get some good results can climb up the table. It is an important month in our season for how we will get on, and one we are looking forward to it and with some confidence.”
The Grecians are still the top scorers in League Two, but have drawn a blank in three of the last four matches, and only scored six in eight games. But Taylor said that the players feel the goals will soon return.
He said: “We are still getting in good positions but the last little bit is lacking. But it is important we are getting in good areas, and if we can add a bit more patience or quality then hopefully the goals will come back and we can start scoring like we did at the start of the year.”
Meanwhile, manager Matt Taylor was left frustrated as he quest to bring in a striker ahead of Monday’s transfer deadline ended in disappointment.
A frontman was the priority throughout the month but, try as he might, Taylor was unable to get the one he wanted.
In the end, Taylor’s only dealings in the window were Reading goalkeeper Jokkul Andresson and Newport winger Robbie Willmott, who both signed on loan for the remainder of the season, and the permanent signing of centre back Sam Stubbs, from Fleetwood.
There was plenty of speculation throughout the day though, but on an outgoing, rather than an incoming at St James Park.
It was reported by reliable sources that a fee had been agreed for Ryan Bowman with League One clubs Burton Albion and Shrewsbury Town heavily linked with him, while some claimed League Two promotion challengers Cheltenham Town were set to hijack a deal at the 11th hour.
In the end, the deadline passed with no great alarm, although Exeter’s failure to bring a striker as a suitable replacement for the 29-year-old was probably the cause of any Bowman deal to not go through.
For a report from last night’s game go to www.devonlive.com/sport.