Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale says his players are looking forward to the promotion run-in with six games of the season to go.
The Grecians sit five points outside the automatic promotion places with a game in hand over third-placed Wycombe Wanderers, so the pressure is building. However, Tis says it is something the team is enjoying, having won three out of their last four matches.
“We are looking forward to what is coming,” he said. “What has gone has gone and we have got a lot to play for. We are in a good place, we need to win games and we have to hope those around us drop points, of course, but we can only affect the six games that we do have.”
First up it is Cambridge United away – a team that has only lost four games at home all season – followed by a trip to table-topping Accrington Stanley.
“It will be a tough challenge,” said Tis. “We are going to take it one game at a time and we are the stage of the season where anything can happen. Anybody can beat anybody and we have to back ourselves, be bold and have positive, purposeful attitude going into these games.”
Ryan Harley, Lee Holmes and Troy Brown all remain doubts for Saturday’s fixture at the Abbey Stadium but, having welcomed Robbie Simpson back into the starting XI during Monday’s win against Cheltenham, City squad is getting stronger at a crucial time in the campaign.
“(Ryan) Harley, (Lee) Holmes and Troy Brown are making good progress,” said Tis. “We are hoping that sooner or later – it maybe this weekend – they will come into the reckoning. However, I would say it is very much the same as last week and maybe one of those will pop onto the bench if they get close enough but we are into a situation where you have got to play it safe and they are not yet 100 per cent fit.
“However, we have got good competition for places and, as any manager will tell you, 60 or 70 minutes into a game having the ability to make changes, with the flexibility and capacity of your bench, makes a big difference.
“So, okay, maybe the team deserves to keep its place (from Monday’s win over Cheltenham), but Kane Wilson played very well at Lincoln (on Good Friday) and I made a change. So, it doesn’t always go that way and I have to say it is not 100 per cent that those players who played on Monday will keep their place. However, we have got six games to go and I need as many players fit as possible. So, competition for places is important.”