Let's talk about the Exeter City game

[roversdude]

Speedy recovery Filo

[RoversInSpain]

Just looking at some past stats of us and Exeter games and was surprised to see that prior to playing Exeter in 2017 and 2016, I can't see any games between us between 2004 and 2016. 12 years without playing Exeter City during that period, that can't be right surely!!

Only played them 2 times in the league in 27 years. That was our Lg2 promotion campaign of 2016/17.  We won 3-1 at their place, when Mandeville came on and changed the game at 1-0 down. They won 3-1 at our place to clinch a play off place while we threw away the title.Ollie Watkins played in both games.
We met in the FA Cup in 2004 we lost, and they drew out Man U in the next round. But prior to that it was 1998 our last league meeting. In the 70’s 80’s and 90’s we played many many times.

[rover-n-out]

Thanks for the info RIS, I well remember the 2004 cup game with Exeter drawing Man U after beating us. It just seems unimaginable both sides only playing 2 league games against each other in 27 years. Exeter, like us, always seemed to be around when we were in leagues 3 and 4. Astonishing!

[selby]

  Well a good three points start to the season in what was a quite an entertaining game well deserved in the end with a bit of lick for a change on our side.
  To start with we very much looked a project at the start of a journey and far from the finished article, very lucky not to be two down early in the game, but dominated large parts of play.
  Neither team looked very threatening in a constructive way apart from when Middleton was on the ball out wide left in the first half, and as said before Exeter missed a golden chance when Pearson was left for dead with pace and Exeter contrived to fluff a golden opportunity from six yards,  and when Pearson when getting to a free kick and volleyed the ball against our own cross
bar with the goalkeeper stranded.
  In the second half we caught the missed chances problem Ajayi being denied from close range by a fabulous block and unlucky touches and crosses into the box were cleared , Le Tutala made a great one on one save  When Exeter went straight down the middle, and we ended close to the end of the game getting a hotly disputed penalty Molly dispatched to win the game.
  Some good play interspersed with bits of untidy play with both keepers especially Lo Tutala not pressured to say the play was quite open, both teams will look to be sharper around the box when attacking, Wareham the Exeter keeper not exactly overworked in the saves department even with our  possession stats.
   The result however in front of a decent crowd, a good game to watch, and new players to bed in and an interest to us supporters, ORiordan especially looking composed and on his game showing a lot of promise with the promise of more to come from Middleton sent at least me home happy with three points banked in the coffers.

[Lesonthewest]

Excellent 3 points in a game we controlled from virtually start to finish. We'll done lads.

[selby]

  The result starts our  momentum again off the back of our finish to last season and gives thge players and staff a little confidence for the battle in a better standard league.
   Both sides yesterday are two that will not be fancied to trouble the bigger clubs in the division that the bookies odds make the favourites to be up at the top of the division come next May.
  But the standard of play and the competitiveness of the game was way higher than most of the games we watched last season, Exeter more structured and with players individually much more adept at springing forward likely to hurt you on the break.
  In most cases being a youngish side if they regularly match the standard, players like Broadbent could become even better than they are now and take the club forward with them.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Agree with all that and next up, a sterner but hopefully manageable test at Mansfield before we start taking on more fancied clubs. A run of games that will probably test everything we have.

[ravenrover]

One thing no one has mentioned, at least I don't think they have, when  Bailey went to full back. How often he appeared in the centre of their box when we attacked. It looked like Gotts, who I thought had an excellent game, dropped in when that happened, I couldn't believe how far forward Bailey was getting

[sedwardsdrfc]

Bailey looked dead on his feet towards the end. Made a few sloppy passes and let their lad get in for the save TLT made at his feet. He gets through a lot of work but could have cost us there.

[drfchound]

One thing no one has mentioned, at least I don't think they have, when  Bailey went to full back. How often he appeared in the centre of their box when we attacked. It looked like Gotts, who I thought had an excellent game, dropped in when that happened, I couldn't believe how far forward Bailey was getting

I noticed that raven and commented on it to my mate at the game.