Exeter

It’s pretty sad that it’s come to this; celebrating an injury time goal to secure our first home point in four games.
The nature of the arrival at the final score in any drawn game largely dictates the mood fans take away with them at the final whistle.

On 87 minutes we were on a bit of a downer because we had again let a lead slip but at least we had one point.

On 88 minutes when the Grecians took the lead there was a descent into the doldrums. It was a case of here we go again.

That said, the crowd didn’t really turn, other than a few who upped and left. In fact there was decent vocal encouragement.

Then in the 92nd minute another piece of master finishing from James Roberts brought us to our feet and with it a much happier mood than we had been experiencing just six minutes earlier. Yet we were still only drawing but that’s the way it works.

Whilst we definitely deserved a point in a largely improved performance I’m not being fooled into believing that we’ve now turned any corner. A possible counter argument to Mapp’s positive gushings about team spirit could quite easily be that we got out of jail. A couple of inches to the left and Robert’s shot would have come back off the post. As it was he couldn’t have been more accurate. He couldn’t have given the keeper less chance without missing. But yes, I acknowledge there was a noticeable team spirit at the end, possibly tinged with a bit of desperation. I’d also like to believe team spirit is such as to be able to hold on to leads more regularly than we do.

This is of course a young side and accordingly allowances need be made when anyone analyses both individual and team performance.

Ryan Clarke is the only 30 something. Our two centre halves are late 20s, the Dannys are mid 20’s, the full-backs and Josh Ruffels early 20s, Patrick Hoban is 23 and we had a couple of teenagers on the pitch at all times.

But we don’t get bonus points for playing youngsters. There is a job to be done and that job is to get enough points to avoid relegation. And it is not as if there is no experience at all within the squad.

The ditching of the third centre half and wing back system helped our approach tremendously. We did what I would expect any home side to do, or at least attempt to do, which is go forward in positive fashion. This was a refreshing change with O’Dowda being instrumental. He had the beating of the full back and time and again went past his supposed marker in the style of wingers of old. It was good to watch and resulted in chances being created.

Not that I pay too much attention to the opposition but I believe that full back was the guy who was replaced on 21 minutes. Possibly due to injury or possibly because he was not doing his job as effectively as Paul Tisdale demanded. COD became somewhat more shackled thereafter and having suffered a dead leg (I’ll get round to looking up what that actually means one day) was withdrawn in the 66th minute.

Josh Ashby on his debut was also playing forward passes that had purpose. He really does look like he can pass a football. I’ll confess I was surprised not to have seen the experienced and sensible midfield head of Michael Collins on the pitch to help young Josh along the way. However, his partners were the also relatively young other Josh, and Rose. I thought both played with maturity but Ashby may be of the type that doesn’t actually need much guidance.

We had a good shape and utterly dominated with the Grecians barely seeming to be able to get into our half.
The first goal came when Rose slipped between two markers before laying the ball out to COD in space a plenty on the left wing. COD then ran at his marker before using the outside of his left to veer away and past him. All very Stanley Matthews like; only Stan did it with his right foot. (Any younger readers ask your grandad.) The ball was cut back and a slight deflection off a defender took it into Hylton’s path. Without fuss our leading scorer did the necessary. It was incredibly pleasing to see that we had three men in or around the six yard box.

It was annoying that we didn’t score more but that’s usually the way. Referee Graham Horwood didn’t help in this regard specifically when it came to ignoring the holding that our boys were being subjected to at corners. At one COD appeared to be hauled to the floor by tights wearing 19 year old goalkeeper, James Hamon. (Other teams play youngsters too, even in the most vital of positions). Instead of being awarded a penalty, play continued, and soon after the visitors were awarded a free kick. I can’t really recall how this came about but it’s been said that Hylton was to blame for holding on to the ball too long. At the time I had not clocked that the kick was actually taken from the wrong place. At the break plenty were saying that it had been and from some distance. Replays show Hylton pointing and remonstrating with Horwood that it should have been further back. Horwood was having none of it and allowed it to be taken quickly but did not maintain consistency in allowing prompt restarts.

We ended up being slightly less alert than we should have been when the ball was whacked into our penalty area. Jake Wright went up with Graham Cummins. Our Captain neither won the header nor was beaten. The ball rolled invitingly down Cummins arm into the path of Arron Davies whose volley with the outside of his right foot was perfectly placed. If there was any blame to be apportioned it would probably be with whoever it was should have been marking the scorer because he had too much space. I don’t blame our Captain and certainly not our keeper. In some people’s eyes though it was probably all their fault; they seem to be the current scapegoats.

In previous matches such incidents have been turning points with the away side then taking control after apparently sussing out and then nullifying our game plan. Without a plan B that was usually it.

After that equaliser we were not so dominant but neither did Exeter take full control. In the second half they had much more possession and looked a better side than they had done earlier but the game looked to be heading to closure without further goals. That we had not forced Horwood to make a proper save or two was disappointing.
Another half time comment had been that although we’d played good football we looked “fragile”. I know exactly what Tim R meant when he said it.

That fragility was evident when we went behind with two minutes to go. And this time I will blame Clarke and Wright. Our keeper’s punch was weak but he was impeded. Not by an annoying attacker but our captain. That doesn’t mean that I think they had dreadful games but I will concede that they have been in better form.

That we did then show genuine spirit is comforting. When a Grecian attempted to control on his chest a ball hit out of their box he was immediately surrounded by four or five men in yellow. Ashby won the ball getting it to Sam Long. His pass to Mullins was played into Roberts’ path and we were in business. Controlled with his right foot and bent in with his left with not a great deal of room to operate. A very good goal indeed.

Time for another quick player review

Just to cover the bits I think it is worth noting that have not come out so far.

Hylton: Perhaps he was slightly to blame for their first but he had possibly the best game any player has had in an Oxford shirt this season. His work rate was phenomenal. And his control too. I marvel at the way some players even in L2 can bring a 50 yard pass down within a couple of inches of their body with one touch.

Ashby: Loved the way he spotted the danger as the ball looped over Clarke for their second goal and hurled himself onto the line and attempted to keep it out. On another day such thinking and application will save us.

Long: I’d looked on him largely as an uncompromising centre half but he can play some football too.

Hoban: It’s hard to tell at this stage whether he’s got it. He has physical presence and won a lot in the air. Perhaps smarter movement and fitness will come the longer he is part of a full time professional set up but he managed to dig deep near the end to run back and cover when he looked like he’d run out of fuel.

Andy Whing: I’ve written much about Whingy in the past. Mostly giving reasons why he should be in the team. But if quicker players can do the same job then there is no place for him. Harsh, but that’s the way of things. And on recent current form I can see why he is not starting. But let’s not forget it wasn’t long ago that we frequently heard “all we want is a team of Andy Whings”.

The R word

Thankfully none of the teams below us won but Cheltenham and York got draws against Luton and Burton respectively. Leaving the ground I heard two guys talking. “I think there’s got to be two teams worse than us, so we shouldn’t go down”. The reply was, “Yes, you’re probably right but we’re giving it a good go to make sure we’re down there fighting against relegation.”

Yes precisely, mate. Unless we start picking up a decent amount of wins we’ll be looking at that trap door right up until May. Some think Hartlepool have already gone but even so another outfit will be accompanying them. Pompey, Mansfield, Tranmere and the Daggers all have games in hand. It is still worrying but think how much more worried we’d feel without that bit of Roberts magic.

Reasons to be positive

Okay, calm down. Don’t get confused I’ve used the word “positive”. Joe Skarz looks to be a good signing and a match fit Tyrone Barnett would only strengthen us.

Finally

I posted this on the Yellows Forum – “We have loads of fans who need a scapegoat or two”. Oxfordyankee came up with “Whereas, Paul, all you need is Appleton. Just my little joke; albeit an unfunny one”.

So perhaps when I say this he won’t believe me. I had been thinking is it all actually Michael Appleton’s fault and was wondering whether I should delve into the roles of Messrs Eales and Ashton, particularly the latter who for all I know could possibly be interfering in first team matters? But as this article has again grown beyond the size intended I’ll leave that for another day, or possibly never.

Along with three points next Saturday I hope to make further acquaintance with a Mutual Friend.