Duo facing race against time to be fit for trip to Bloomfield Road
Exeter City player-coach Danny Butterfield confirmed that both Lee Holmes and captain Jordan Moore-Taylor remain doubts for this Saturday’s trip to Blackpool.Both players picked up ankle injuries in City’s 3-0 win over Cardiff City on Thursday, July 28, and while manager Paul Tisdale confirmed that the two players would not be out long-term, they are facing a race against time to be fit for the trip to Bloomfield Road.
“We are giving them as much time as possible, but they are still doubts,” said Danny.
“We are leaving it to the last minute with all our injuries because the ones we have got out at present are our starters from last season if you like.
“We are being patient and trusting the physios to do as much as they can do (to get them fit) and if that is not the case for this weekend then we move them on looking forward to Tuesday.
“However, if that happens, the players that we will call upon we have got every faith and trust that they can do a job.”
Blackpool face City on the back of a fall from grace that has seen them suffer three relegations in the past five years. However, Danny is cautious about the threat they will pose.
“They will be a very good team,” he said. “They still have very good quality players in their squad that we are aware of so we are going to Blackpool giving them the upmost respect because we know that it is going to be a tough game.
“The coin then flips to us and we have to back what we’re doing and believe that we’re capable of beating them. We will go there and give them as much respect as we need to. We do know that they will be challenging for promotion this season and hopefully that starts after Saturday.
“We go to Blackpool, believing we can win the game. It is vital that we start on the right foot and we are pushing from the right direction from the word go.
“The first game is always a little edgy as teams have made new signings. Sometimes you are not in a rhythm you have not got any momentum and you have not get any form going into the first game. It is always a little bit different.”
City missed out on promotion last season but, on the back of a pre-season run that has seen them win seven from seven, expectation levels among fans have risen.
However, Butterfield is careful not to place too much pressure on the team.
“I don’t think we need to jump ahead too early and say we must do this and we must do that’” he said.
“We need to approach each game in a calculated manner. We believe we have got a group of players who are capable of getting promoted. It is certainly something we are aiming for, but we don’t put too much pressure on the players as such because it is a long season and things can change quickly – both ways. So we will just be focusing on Saturday and when that is out of the way we will move onto the next game.”
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