Grecians boss reflects on home win against the Chairboys
Following a 2-1 home victory against Wycombe Wanderers, Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale was pleased to have got back to winning ways to keep the points tally ticking over again and continuing the momentum that had been built in recent weeks.There was a potential threat of upward progress being halted, with the last win having been against Dagenham almost three weeks prior. Since then, the Grecians had been defeated when hosting basement club Hartlepool and battled to a draw at Southend.
But the home victory against the Chairboys was a fifth City win in just seven League 2 games – keeping Exeter right amongst the division’s in-form sides – saw Exeter end the night as close to the top of the league as the bottom.
As well as the building of momentum, there were plenty of other factors that left the City manager satisfied too.
“I’m very pleased because it keeps our run going over the past seven or eight games,” Paul said. “Having lost the last home game, it gives us another boost and gain in points.
“I’m also pleased because Wycombe have had the upper hand over us in the last few seasons in League games here; they’ve outmuscled us really. We knew what to expect in the game.
“I’m pleased because we came back from a goal down; I’m pleased because we hung in there at the start of the game when we weren’t great and they were overpowering us. We gradually got back into the game and I’m pleased for the players who played really well.
“There were some big moments today at both ends of the pitch. Christy Pym made a fantastic save at one-nil, Scot Bennett blocked a shot, Danny Butterfield made a block at the end, Christian Ribeiro got a header – all the little moments, we came out on top today.
“We got a scruffy goal for the first one which is a bit unlike us – it was a long ball and a flick and a bit of a chase and pressure, and it was a fantastic goal from David Wheeler in a scruffy sense. And it was another free-kick from Matt Grimes that produced a goal [for Scot Bennett].
“Many aspects of today’s game I enjoyed and it keeps us going and keeps us gaining points, as we have done regularly over the last seven or eight games.”
City had trailed to a Peter Murphy header, but midway through the first period David Wheeler put the Grecians back on terms. It was his through-ball for Graham Cummins that almost allowed the striker in, but when the Irishman’s shot was blocked the winger followed in to square the game.
And captain Scot Bennett – who had started in defence but was a forward at that point – followed in as Graham Cummins’ bullet-header was saved desperately but spilled by goalkeeper Matt Ingram.
“David was great today,” Paul continued. “It was the first game he has been fully fit now for five or six weeks – he limped off at Tranmere a month ago, and he was fully fit again when he came off against Southend on Saturday so he started again.
“He has been selected to start this year in every game that he has been fully fit, so he’s progressing and looking a really good player.
“I’m pleased for Scot – it was a game when again he played three positions. He had a funny first ten minutes today; he didn’t start the game very well but he kept going and he improved his performance.
“The goal was crafted from a Grimes free-kick and a good first touch from Graham Cummins. It’s important to get the first touch in the attacking box because the boys can continue to run towards goal, and I was pleased for Scot to get a winner.”