Full-back Craig Woodman says Exeter City need to be on the front-foot a bit more if they are to get a positive result in their Emirates FA Cup tie with Blackpool on Saturday.
The Grecians go into the game on the back off two defeats in Sky Bet League Two. Injuries and illness have played their part in those losses but Craig is keen for City to put their dip in form behind them this weekend and says they must be positive from the off if they are going to do that.
“I think we have just got to be on the front foot a bit more,” said Craig. “We have to take the game to Blackpool and see what they have got to offer, work their team out and just get the ball down, pass it and enjoy our football and see where that takes us.
“We are the underdogs and it is the spirit of the FA Cup and we have got nothing to lose. We can go out there and enjoy our football and try and stop the little rot that we are in at the moment and get back to winning ways, hopefully.”
Craig is now in his 19th season as a professional footballer, so what fond memories does he have of the FA Cup?
“I don’t know if I have any fond memories, because you always remember the games that you lose to a lower league club, but that is the FA Cup for you.
“For us, it is a little break from the league. We have had a couple of defeats and it will be nice to play a with a bit more freedom and enjoy the game.
“It will be a normal event for us to go to St James Park and have a game of football, so there is nothing out of the ordinary for us.
“Hopefully the journey down for them (Blackpool) will be as long as the Friday journeys we have had for the last few games.”
Another not so fond memory Craig has was the last time City met Blackpool in competitive action when they lost 2-1 to the Tangerines in the 2016/17 Sky Bet League Two play-off final. He is one of only four players in the starting line-up that day, that is still part of the City squad. So does the match take on any extra significance because of that?
“For me, I think it does,” said Craig. “To get to that stage and to lose was one of the worst things to happen in my career so it will be nice to get one over on them.”