City gaffer lauds performance and result against York
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale was glowing with praise for his players following their 2-1 home win against York City, which came courtesy of two Alan Gow goals.
The Grecians grew into the game and completed a turnaround after Ryan Jarvis netted an early opener for the visitors, and it wasn’t just the result that pleased Paul but also the manner in which the victory game.
With injuries and tactical substitutions playing their part, it became an increasingly strategic battle between Tis and his opposing number Nigel Worthington. The City manager was delighted with the performance of his players in terms of both what they did individually and their execution of their tactics.
He was also complementary of visitors York, who were impressive for a majority of the match despite their eventual downfall.
“York City played really well – I thought they were excellent today,” said Tis. “I’m surprised that they have had a poor start because they really were excellent. They played tactically for their manager, they worked really hard as a team and stopped us doing what we were trying to do.
“We had to pull ourselves up from our bootstraps today. We had to improve in units and we had a long strategic talk at half-time about what we were trying to do and the players did everything I asked them to do.
“Alan Gow, Liam Sercombe and Pat Baldwin all changed positions and all did what they were asked to do and kept to play, so well-done them because it made a difference. We improved our performance as the game went on.
“It is three wins at home out of three. That bodes well our home form compared to last year – it is something we have been conscious of and I’m really pleased.”
Alan Gow’s wizardry was a key component in securing the three points – his first goal was with his first touch of the ball after coming on for the injured John O’Flynn, and his second was a pinger of a strike to win the game in the second half.
Following something of a disrupted pre-season, the Scotsman has had to wait for his opportunities and Paul paid compliments in abundance for both his goals and his contribution to the game as a whole
“It was a forced substitution – it isn’t the way you want to make a substitution, with John O’Flynn going off with a hamstring problem,” he continued.
“Alan has been training really well over the last couple of weeks – he has had an interrupted pre-season, I have been waiting for an opportunity and so has he – and it presented itself. And on he came and scored.
“He played really well, and it wasn’t just about the goals. He was fluid in play, he was mobile, he retained the ball really well. He did what he was asked to do and it was a terrific performance. Is anybody really surprised, because I’m not – he is capable of it, so well done Alan.”
Both goals required a different type of ability and Paul was pleased to see the way he took both of them and backed him to have an ongoing impact this season.
“The first one was a pressure finish because he had only just come on and it opened up for him,” he continued. “The second was a lovely strike and he kept his knee over it and kept it low.
“He played his position well – he challenged and he ran, and if he does that he is going to be dynamite.”