Tis: “Results the primary objective”

Tis talks to the press ahead of Fleetwood

Looking back on Tuesday’s win against AFC Wimbledon, Exeter manager Paul Tisdale explained the importance of finally getting an elusive win.

“It was a very important win because it gets the wheels turning again.  We’ve had a very bad month, and results are the primary objective.  We’ve played well recently, but not won games.

“The players need to feel good about themselves.  They need to have a day off where they’re not having to question their own performance and can switch off a bit.  You can rarely do that after you’ve lost a game.

However the next obstacle at St James’ Park might be a tougher proposition.  While the Dons are hoping to stave off relegation, visitors Fleetwood are leading an early charge for back-to-back promotions.

“Regardless of what they spend or who they have, any team that has been promoted from the Conference has shown over the last ten years or so that they come up – as we did – and they’ll be a confident and progressive team.

“Fleetwood seem to be proving the theory that that’s the case… any team that’s working off the back of a promotion will be difficult to play against.

“Then you look at some of the players they have, some of the players they’ve acquired, and you soon realise that they’re going to be a tough team.  Not just some confident, purposeful players, but some knowhow in there as well – and we’ll have to be at our maximum on Saturday.”