Exeter City’s starting XI taking shape ahead of their first game of the season

Paul Tisdale, Exeter City’s manager, has conceded the side who started the game against Bristol Rovers on Saturday will be very similar to the starting XI he will choose for the opening game of the season on August 6th against Blackpool.

Exeter we're hevily tipped by http://www.accumulatortips.org.uk/ and they put on an impressive first half display at the weekend with goals from Ryan Harley and Ollie Watkins taking City into the break 2-0 ahead against Darrell Clarke’s Rovers. 4-4-2 was the preferred formation with goalscorer Watkins partnering the newly transferred Robbie Simpson up top. Jake Taylor, Lloyd James, Harley and Lee Holmes formed Tisdale’s midfield with on-trial Pierce Sweeney, Troy Brown, Troy Archibald-Henville and Jordan Moore-Taylor making up the defence.

Tisdale was typically to-the-point when speaking to the press regarding his likely starting XI against Blackpool stating: “I don’t want to be creative for the sake of it. The players are good players. They can make things happen and sometimes you don’t need to be too manipulative with it”. Clearly the manager is worried that too many changes will upset the rhythm his players have developed and displayed in the first 45 minutes of Saturday’s game.

He went on to discuss his tactical plans: “You need to just focus on one or two bits of teamwork, which they will be asked to do and let them get on with it. There’s not too much for me to meddle with, I don’t think”. It is apparent Tisdale has a great deal of respect for his player’s abilities and doesn’t want to fix something that isn’t broken.

The match itself saw City attack Rovers confidently in the first half with Simpson going close early on; an under hit back pass allowed Simpson in but he couldn’t stay on his feet as he rounded Puddy in the Rovers goal and the ball was cleared by the visitors.

Harley put Exeter ahead a short time after. Taylor’s cross was only half cleared and Holmes was able to put the ball back into the area. Holmes had a few attempts himself before reversing the ball to Watkins who lifted the ball over Puddy into a virtually open goal.

Tisdale seemed impressed with the goals, and the creativity in the build-up, but suggested his team overplayed the ball at times: “They have all got the ability to do things, but sometimes less is more”. He went on to imply his players need to play together and hold their positions: “We need to be all doing things at the same time and just be in the right positions. We haven’t got to be stunningly creative all the time.”  A minor criticism of his squad but one they will no doubt forgive.

Ten changes were made at half time and three more quickly followed in the second half. 15-year-old Ethan Ampadu made his first team debut alongside many other inexperienced players but the City side kept Rovers at bay with sub ‘keeper Hamon only required to make one meaningful save. Tisdale praised his young side but conceded nerves kicked in for some though he fully expected them to.