Grecians' matchwinner reacts to Portsmouth result
EXETER CITY’S ARRON DAVIES was delighted with his evening’s work after delivering a match-winning performance on his return to the starting line-up at Fratton Park in the win over Portsmouth.“It was a massive win and a very disciplined performance,” Arron said. “We had a game-plan, stuck to it, and it’s nice when it comes off. We came here looking to stay in our shape, shuffle and let their centre-halves have it, before cutting off the passes. That worked perfectly, and we got the goal on the counter-attack in the first half through David Wheeler. That was exactly what Tis asked for in his pre-match team-talk.
“It’s been disappointing for me not being involved over the last couple of weeks, but you do as much as you can to make sure that, when you are called upon, you’re ready. Going into the gym and running on the treadmill every day is all worth it when at the end of it you come up with a winning goal. You have to be professional when you’re not in the squad, but I was delighted to come in and get a goal tonight.
“Like the first, my goal came on the break – Lee Holmes put the cross in, and the goalkeeper got a touch to it. I was a bit worried at first when I saw the ball coming to my head, but I just made sure that I got a clean contact on it. I was aware that the covering player could have clattered me, but I was prepared for that. To see it go into the back of the net was nice, and I might have gone a bit crazy with the celebration, but it was worth it.
“We did mention before the game how long it had been since Exeter City last won here – it was a long while ago. It would have been devastating if that goal Portsmouth scored at the end had been an equaliser, but we executed our game-plan and were steely and determined. We did tonight what a lot of teams do when they come to our place; it all went perfectly, and our team-talk before the game was all put into plan. It’s certainly nice when that happens.”
Finally, Arron targeted a place in this weekend's starting line-up as the Grecians prepare for another away trip, this time in Wales at Newport County.
“That’s the plan,” Arron said, “I’ve hopefully done myself justice tonight. Tis said that I was excellent, and though I might have been tiring a little bit at the end, it was nice to get ninety minutes, and to get the goal was a big confidence-boost. It would be great to continue in the side back home in Wales against Newport.”