City defender pleased with adaptable side
Following a 0-0 draw with Oxford United, Grecians defender Scot Bennett praised the team-focus within the squad that is helping them to earn positive results against dangerous opponents.
The Grecians had gone nine fixtures without a clean-sheet before the away double-header against Scunthorpe and Oxford – and from those two games, goalkeeper Artur Krysiak and his defence were not breached.
Throughout the season to date, City have had to show an adaptability to reshuffle and reorganise mid-game. The trip to the Kassam Stadium was no different, with the defensive unit being necessarily fluid to make tweaks on minor and major scales when needed.
And Bennett feels that the adaptability owes a lot to the spirit in the camp – and that there’s a determination in the team to continue nullifying opposition attacks.
“There are a lot of players that can move around,” explained Scot. “Pat [Baldwin] was at right-back in the first half and then I got moved out there after, and we started with a five and then became a four.
“But we’re all together at the minute, and if that’s the case, we can keep playing for each other and keep moving forward.
“You’ve always got a chance if you can keep a clean-sheet. We had a chat and we wanted to keep more than we did last year because we sat down and worked out how many we had kept last season.
“The back four are really up for it this year and we really want to continue that, so we always give ourselves a chance of winning games.”
City’s final tally last season was based chiefly around their away form, though it is a little too early just yet to work out precisely whether being at home or away is favourable for the Grecians.
Scot is hopeful that the Grecians can continue setting a base on the road by collecting points where possible, and then building on those foundations with dominant performances at St James Park – beginning with the visit of Burton Albion on Saturday.
The Pools fixture excepted, the team have been playing some intricate, attractive and – most importantly – effective football in recent weeks. And he admitted that the games can’t come quick enough when they’re in that kind of mood.
“Hopefully we can keep building on our away results, like the great away win on Saturday and then a great point against Oxford tonight, who are flying at the moment,” said Bennett.
“It’s another point to keep them ticking over, which is brilliant.”
“Though I think we need to start picking up points again at home after the disappointment of the Hartlepool game, and we need to pick up more points at the Park than we did last year.
“So we’re aiming to keep winning games, and we just want them to come as quickly as possible when we’re playing like we are.”