‘Marked man’ Bowman is so vital to the Grecians
Taylor praises the impact of Exeter City striker following his return from suspension
EXETER City manager Matt Taylor believes star striker Ryan Bowman is a ‘marked man’ in League Two.
The 29-year-old frontman returned to the City side on Saturday after a three-match ban for a red card he received in the 1-1 draw at Newport County. He was adjudged to have caught Jason Demetriou with a flailing elbow, which reduced the Grecians to nine men after Alex Hatridge had been sent off earlier in the game, but the County players were not shy in voicing their opinions to the match officials.
After three games out, though, Bowman showed just what City had missed with an outstanding all-round performance against Orient as he again occupied defenders and gave Exeter a focal point to their attack.
Bowman didn’t score, but he set up Joel Randall for the first goal in City’s 4-0 win and even Orient boss Jobi McAnuff admitted his side could not handle the powerful frontman in his post-match interview.
With the game won, Taylor took the opportunity to rest Bowman with ten minutes to go, but he is expected to lead the line again tonight when the Grecians head to Scunthorpe United in League Two.
“He gets whacked more than any other player,” Taylor said. “If he ever puts his body into an opposition player he gets penalised straight away and there’s uproar.
“I wanted to protect Ryan a little bit, hence why I took him off towards the end.
“He really does put himself about, which is what the team needs, but he’s on a tightrope because he’s a marked man in this league.”
Taylor added: “I’ve been saying it long enough, he allows the others to do what they do. He is a presence and we know what Ryan brings to the team.
“The scoreline when Ryan plays is more often enough a positive one as he brings bodies to the ball and gives us a bit more space for our dynamic attacking players.
“Anyone who has been here this season has seen why we value him so much. Ryan is to the go to guy and he affects the opposition and competes in the air, and it was great to have him back.”
Bowman’s presence is appreciated by those around him too with strike partner Matt Jay, who bagged a hattrick in the thumping of the O’s, adding: “It was a bit silly for him to be sent off, but it is great to have him back.
“He is our focal point and he was disappointed he didn’t get the chances I did, but they’ll come, and it was nice to have him back on the pitch.
“He has come back and hit the ground running, and perhaps a game or two’s rest did him a lot of good. He is such an important player for us, and we all play well off him.”
City’s four goals at the weekend took them to an incredible 55 for the season in League Two, more than any other team and six more than Cambridge United, who have the second most.
In fact, only Brentford (61) and Hull City (55) have scored more throughout the EFL, but both of those clubs have played 34 games so far this season, compared to Exeter’s 31.
“We’ve been pretty good in the goalscoring charts and it’s sod’s law that the fans aren’t here to see it,” Taylor said. “They’ve been saying I’m boring Matt Taylor for years, as I am constantly reminded!”