Paul looks back on draw in Mansfield
Following a goalless draw against Mansfield Town, Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale gave his verdict of the meeting.
While there was nothing lacking in effort and desire from the City players, Paul left Field Mill feeling as though the team were sometimes trying to strike before the iron was hot. The Grecians played with plenty of vigour but decisions weren’t given enough consideration and saw the play break down before a clear-cut chance was forged.
“I think we’ll travel back on the coach thinking that it’s a good point and a clean-sheet away from home, and I’m sure we’ll be able to spin the positives in our minds,” said Tis.
“But I think we’re a bit disappointed that the three points were there if we had played better. I don’t think we deserved it over the course of the game.
“Perhaps if we had done ten per cent better – not in terms of energy, effort or commitment, but if we’d just put a few more passes together and had more of a flow to our play. I think three or four more passes would have opened them up; we forced the ball too often and ended up giving it away.”
Often the appeal of using striker Sam Parkin as the focal point of the attack was a touch too prevalent, as his teammates often sought him too soon rather than circulating the ball and building the play.
“All the players did well, but we forced the ball on Sam a little bit too often, when we could have maybe taken responsibility in midfield,” he continued.
“Each side can look at it and think there were a couple of chances missed. We had a terrific ball across the face of goal which their defender made a brilliant stop to, and their ‘keeper did terrifically well on set-pieces and showed real athleticism to get a hand on the ball a number of times.
“It was a game full of energy and forceful play, but we could have made a few more considered decisions with the ball.”
Ultimately though, Tis wasn’t displeased with a second unbeaten fixture to begin the League 2 campaign, following on from last week’s victory against Bristol Rovers at St James Park.
Tis said: “We’ve had a 2-1 win away from home, a solid 0-0 away from home – it’s not a bad start.”