EXETER POST-MATCH REACTION

Put it here.....

3 points gained but a very disjointed game. never really seemed to be really up for it but went in 2-0 up and playing against 10 men at half time. second half was poor but even so we missed a couple of good chances. The team seemed determined to walk the ball into the net and no-one was surprised when Exeter scored. exeter are a team that is similar to us last season. Plays plenty of pretty football but doesn't have enough fire power. For that we are grateful because even though Bart made a couple of saves (1 good) there were moments when we looked poor in defence.
All in all this showed yet again how valuable our goalscoring ability is to us.

Just got back. Saints' performance was very unconvincing. The defending was very much 'bambi on ice' in the last few minutes. I got the feeling that, when we went 2-0 up, the players sat back and thought 'job done'. Exeter came back at us second half and I think a better team than them, and they had a player dismissed for a horrendous tackle that sent one of ours flying in the first half, might have got something from the game. Their fans were a noisy bunch and, apart from a period of silence when we had gone 2-0 up, they didn't stop singing. Nice to see the stadium almost full, it was advertised as a 'sell out' at the stadium, but there were a few empty seats around, probably those of ST holders or those who couldn't make it for whatever reason. 31000 for a League One game is pretty bloody good, must have been one of the highest attendances of the day in any league.

Bialkowski made a couple of good saves but otherwise didn't have two much to do until the final five or ten minutes when Exeter were looking for a second. His kicking, though, was pretty suspect, a couple of goal kicks went straight out of play. However, it's another three points gained, I saw Lloyd James score a goal and we won, despite looking as if the players had had a bit too much turkey and trimmings.
One thing I want to know - where the hell did the ref get FIVE minutes stoppages at the end of the game from?
A couple of new defenders are vital in the January window, as are another midfielder or two and a striker.

Good side 3 more points and 3 more goals plus near enough a full house. On the down side poor 2nd half performance which meant closer game than should have been and thought AP was to negative today, we could and should have won by more if we had taken control when Exeter down to 10 men.

Exeter started brightly and reminded me of Brighton, chasing down every loose ball and pressing us all the time which we dont like. Still after initial 15 mins, (why do we start always on back foot?) seemed to settle down and James who thought had his best game for some time finally got the courage to shoot, egged on by the Northam end and lo and behold gets a deflection and 1 up. Then sustained pressure from Saints, Connolly hit the bar with a header when should have scored as should Trotman. Didn't seem to matter when another good ball in from James and Trotman of back of head made it 2 nil. Didnt see sending off as gone for coffee, we normally score then but against a side with 10 men and 2 up would expect to coast through. Problem was we had Antonio so really 10 against 10 today.

Unfortunately to many players did coast in 2nd half. Lallana was carrying injury he picked up in 1st half and no surprise when substituted but bringing in Mills seemed to unsettle left hand side. Didnt help with Antonio on right who I thought was awful. No control no brain and today little work rate, how he didnt get substituted I've no idea and Pardew seemed to be playing to rest players for Colchester game. Nearly all back fired when Exter scored from corner, why no one on post as would have easily cleared if they had been. Mills was then substituted so will no doubt have major confidence knock , shame Pardew didnt see what was happening on other side of pitch with Antonio.

Wotton came on and made us look more solid and Waigo gave us some pace up front and took his goal well, good pace, control and finish. Lambert nearly scored at the end with a great lob which came back of the bar and had to play out 5 minutes of extra time, unbelievable where they get the time from and despite a bit of ping pong around the box we got through without anymore scares.

Should be happy with 3 points but we could and should have had more goals. AP does make strange calls on substitutions and is a worry if he couldnt see how poor Antonio was.

Bart 7 made a couple of good saves at crucial time in first half.
James 8 best game for ages, everyone knows I'm not his fan at RB but full credit to him for today.
Trotman 7 Scored and could have had another. Did okay defensively
Perry 7 Usual efficent self, not spectacular but breaks up play well.
Harding 7 Got forward well 2nd half and got in some good blocks
Lallana 6 not his most influentila and clearly suffering aftre foul on him in first half
Hammond 7 Got through a lot of work
Schneiderlin 6 still fails to impress some good flashes with other time loosing the ball to easily
Antonio 3 Just thought he was awful. didnt even track back after Exter had scored their goal
Connolly 7 was buzzing around penalty area without looking great threat but was creating chances for others
Lambert 7 won flick ons and couple of free kicks went close plus good lob at end.

Subs

Mills 5 struggled to get into game but no worse then Antonio
Waigo 7 Looks a much better choice to Antonio, suspect he might start against Colchester resting Connolly
Wotton 6 Not long on pitch but won a number of tackles

Think Jaidi will play Monday, 2 games in 3 days probably to much and will want his arial presence. Could also play Thomas at RB for more height and put James in midfield. Think he will go 4 5 1. Still 3 points so lets move on and get another 3 on Monday

"One thing I want to know - where the hell did the ref get FIVE minutes stoppages at the end of the game from?

Quite agree how on earth could they make 5 mins from 2nd half????

Bart 7 made a couple of good saves at crucial time in first half.
James 8 best game for ages, everyone knows I'm not his fan at RB but full credit to him for today.
Trotman 7 Scored and could have had another. Did okay defensively
Perry 7 Usual efficent self, not spectacular but breaks up play well.
Harding 7 Got forward well 2nd half and got in some good blocks
Lallana 6 not his most influentila and clearly suffering aftre foul on him in first half
Hammond 7 Got through a lot of work
Schneiderlin 6 still fails to impress some good flashes with other time loosing the ball to easily
Antonio 3 Just thought he was awful. didnt even track back after Exter had scored their goal
Connolly 7 was buzzing around penalty area without looking great threat but was creating chances for others
Lambert 7 won flick ons and couple of free kicks went close plus good lob at end.

Subs

Mills 5 struggled to get into game but no worse then Antonio
Waigo 7 Looks a much better choice to Antonio, suspect he might start against Colchester resting Connolly
Wotton 6 Not long on pitch but won a number of tackles

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Agree a bit but not with some of your ratings.

Harsh on Antonio to give him 3- he wasn't that bad!. Yes he wasn't great today but at times caused problems in the first half down the wing.

Schneiderlin was the opposite to what we usually see him, he got stuck in to the physical side of the game and his passing let him down at times- still an important asset to the team


Overall, We wern't brilliant but it's another win and fair play to Exeter's players and fans- they both just kept going even when at 2-0/2-1 down.

COYR

Thanks guys, nice reports.

Score of 3 might be hard but 4 at best for Antonio. What really frustrated me yesterday was his lack of effort and his constant failure to track back when Exeter were pressing in second half. I would have thought someone on loan would be working his socks off to earn a contract but didnt happen. Classic was near the end Exeter had a corner and Exeter player in middle of park went for short corner, Antonio should have picked up but he was walking back to half way line not actually watching the game. He also gives away to many free kicks when he tries to pull back players, might be he's having his short pulled but he makes so obvious that ref will always give free kick against him.

AP has to make some decisions on loan players and so far only Trotman has looked the part even with the odd poor game, but looks like will be going back to Preston. As far as wide right players Waigo offers far more and does present a goal threat, seems better going down the middle with his last 2 games.

Antonio is strange because sometimes he is really good but other times he looks like he is just bored of playing football or something. I wonder if he is actually just a bit thick because he loses concentration really easily. It has surprised me that AP has not been starting Papa every game. Even with the offsides he can still score every game and looks a class above every other player.