Manager heaps praise on team after second victory on the spin
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale was glowing with praise for his players after a second win in the space of five days rounded off a fine week for the Grecians as they were victorious at Tranmere Rovers.Following a 2-1 win at Cambridge United on Tuesday, Exeter replicated the scoreline at Prenton Park with another great display of football.
It was City’s first win at Prenton Park for over 28 years, and consequently the first victory on the Wirral under the reign of Paul Tisdale.
And Paul felt that Exeter deserved no less than the three points after turning in another dominant shift.
“We’ve been here three times and really suffered with some brutal conditions at the end of the season,” Paul said. “But today we had a fair playing field and we mentioned before the game that we should take advantage of it, as we did at Cambridge on Tuesday.
“There is only so much you can talk about before a game and we’ve got plenty to talk about at the moment, but it’s been a good week.
“We had our players at their best – players were in good positions and playing their position. It’s taken me a month to get there and we’re starting to settle now.
“But it was a good performance from every player on that pitch. They’ve marched through it today and played some good football.”
City took an early lead through Graham Cummins, heading in from close range, but his goal was pegged back by Rovers defender Danny Holmes before the break.
However Jordan Moore-Taylor headed in Matt Grimes’ pinpoint free-kick to secure City the points.
Paul was especially impressed with the style in which the team approached the game and attempted to play progressive football, despite their position in the relegation zone at the start of the afternoon.
He also reserved praise for the travelling fans, who made a constant racket in support of the Grecians at Prenton Park.
“I did say to the players that it would be a different game [to Cambridge] and that they would have to solve some different conundrums and challenges, but the basics were still the same,” he continued.
“We put pressure on the back four, passed the football when it was on, and defended our box at set-pieces. It’s down to them to make the game, and they did it.
“We had some good performance from players today – all round it was a really comprehensive performance and I think we deserved it.
“I’m not speaking out of turn and I’m not going to gloat – I just think we deserved to win today. Normally when you see teams winning away from home in League 2 it’s a case of parking the bus and nicking one on the break or with a set-piece, and that’s not us.
“Our supporters were fantastic and got behind the team – they certainly had every reason to get behind the team and we entertained them today with a lot of threat on goal and I think anybody would say we are a good unit at the moment. It’s amazing what a week or two can do.”