City manager vying to bounce back at Glanford Park
Ahead of the Grecians’ trip to Scunthorpe on Saturday, Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale has already put aside the emotions of losing to Hartlepool last weekend in order to concentrate on getting back to winning ways.
The home defeat to Pools was a disappointing afternoon for the supporters and players, so Tis is keen to recover quickly from that blip and get back to winning ways at Glanford Park.
“We lost three points and a game of football, and the job of a manager and the team is to make sure that doesn’t become worse,” explained Tis.
“So long as we don’t lose our morale, disciplines, focus or concentration for doing what we’re good at, then you have to write it off sometimes and just accept that these things can happen.
“Nobody in the team was demotivated or lacked energy or purpose – it just went wrong, and sometimes you just have to write it off.”
While Scot Bennett has been performing heroics up front for City in recent weeks, recognised strike partnership Sam Parkin and John O’Flynn are itching to get back amongst it now after both being sidelined with injury in recent weeks.
O’Flynn came off the bench against Pools, while it was a touch too soon to return for Parkin. Tis revealed that he would consider starting the pair up front against the Iron, but with one eye on a midweek match against Oxford, Tis will be considering his options and their effects carefully.
He also confirmed that there would be omissions, as expected, in other facets of the team.
“We’ve got John O’Flynn and Sam Parkin both back in full training and competing for selection, which is a good start,” he revealed.
“Sam and John could both start – they’re a good partnership and are back and fully fit, so that’s something I will consider. But we have a game on Tuesday against Oxford so I’ve got to try to win both games. But they are a good partnership and they have shown that a few times this year already.
“It’s always useful as a manager to be able to make choices off the bench, and often those choices revolve around attacking players.
“But Jamie Reid won’t be available as he’s suffering from a bit of a groin injury, which hopefully won’t last too long. Matt Oakley is also missing with an ankle injury, and so is Danny Butterfield with a calf injury. So there’s three out, but two back in.
After having last weekend off from football, Scunthorpe sit three points behind the Grecians with a game in hand – and a bright start to the season from last season’s relegated side means that Paul feels that Saturday’s hosts could well be in contention come the season’s end – and that they will provide a stern test this weekend.
“On the face of it, Scunthorpe have got a good home record and haven’t conceded too many goals at home.
“They’ll be a tough nut to crack and it’ll come down to how we play and how we commit ourselves on the day. They do look like a side that have the potential to compete for promotion.”