Suspensions hit Exeter but injuries start to clear
EXETER City manager Matt Taylor will not rush either Lewis Page or Rory McArdle back from injury, despite the Grecians’ availability list being hit by suspension and fatigue on Tuesday night.
In their midweek clash at Newport County, City saw both Alex Hartridge and Ryan Bowman shown straight red cards, which means they will face one and three-match suspensions respectively.
It led to Exeter having to play for 80 minutes with ten men and almost an hour with nine with both players sent off before half-time. But a dogged, determined and quite brilliant defensive display saw them defend a one-goal lead given to them by Bowman until the 88th minute, when Newport bagged an equaliser.
That effort has certainly taken its toll on the players, though, and Taylor knows he will have to freshen things up for Saturday’s home clash with Grimsby Town. McArdle and Page are both available again, but both are coming back from injuries of their own.
“There is potential for those two,” Taylor said. “We were so pleased that Lewis’s wasn’t a long-term injury and he has done a bit of training today, but it will depend on how Jack Sparkes is feeling tomorrow as to whether we throw him straight back in.
“Rory has done enough contact training now to feel comfortable back on the pitch. The likes of Pierce Sweeney, Tom Parkes, Jack Sparkes were part of a really impressive defensive display and I have to be mindful that I need to freshen the team but, with so many games to come, Saturday might come too soon for those two. It’s great to have them available.”
On a night there really were nine heroes, plus subs, Sweeney and Parkes were imperious at the back, putting their bodies on the line, heading everything that came their way and defending as though their lives depended on it.
Sparkes, meanwhile, looked to be targeted by Newport as most of their attacks came down his side, but he was outstanding in dealing with the threat of his man and constantly stopping crosses at source.
Taylor added further good news by saying Randell Williams and Sam Stubbs are close to a return to training, but goalkeeper Jonny Maxted faces another frustrating spell on the sidelines after breaking a finger.
“In terms of the other bodies, obviously we have a couple of suspensions to contend with now, but Jonny Maxted has a break in his finger, hence why Harry Lee was on the bench on Tuesday night and that will continue for the next couple of weeks,” Taylor added.
“Randell Williams is walking and on the Ultra-G. He is not outside training yet but the moment we get the green light and that bone has healed, I expect to see him out there competing and Sam Stubbs had an injection (to relieve fluid from his knee) yesterday.
“In theory, we should be getting stronger. Obviously Alex is only a one-game ban, Ryan is a three-game ban, but that will go pretty quickly because we have three games next week.”