Paul et Paolo

Johnstones Paint Trophy

Exeter City 1 Swindon Town 2

Due to reasons of budget this was my first game of the season, but the promise of an early kick off (a good move to get some kids in) and reduced prices made it worthwhile to come down to the game.

What a contrast in styles it was too.  I made the mistake of not bringing my camera and the getting seats behind the dugouts.  One cultured, measured, calm and collected, the other passionate, demonstrative, fiery and, at times, comical.  Not talking about the teams but the managers and their contrasting styles.  It must be a good job that Paolo Di Canio eats a healthy Mediterranean diet, otherwise he'd be a surefire candidate for a heart attack. I think he put in more effort than some of his players.

Actually, not true.  His side deservedly came out on top tonight and on this showing things are looking good for the side - if he can contain his frustration with his side.  I get the impression that as a genius on the football pitch he might struggle with lesser players who cannot do what might have been instinctive to him.    

Exeter, on the other hand, have a bit of a job on this season.  They have lost the spine of their team - captain Matt Taylor, playmaker Ryan Harley and last season's top scorer Jamie Cureton, and are clearly struggling.  Early days and there are worse teams than us in this division but Paul Tisdale has his work cut out.  With Keith Millen being given the boot at Bristol City there is talk of Tisdale being one of the people on their list.  They'd be daft not to look seriously at him and I fear it might be a good move for him.  We certainly don't owe him anything but immense gratitude if and when he leaves.  But I do fear that the task will be much, much harder without him at the helm.  We'll see how it all pans out. 

At least this wasn't a league game so nothing really lost in the end.  Though a small boy behind me was heard to bemoan the fact that we only have the FA Cup to play for now this season.  So, no pressure Paul!

Exeter City 2 Oldham Athletic 0

This was Exeter's second to last home fixture of the season unless they manage to make the play-offs and so we went to see what will probably be our last game of the season on Good Friday.

Exeter started a little nerously but a Scott Golbourne goal settled the nerves and a second from Jamie Cureton settled it. Given that last year we stayed up through a goal eight minutes from time on the last day of the season, to be ninth with three games to play is further proof of the impressive progress made under manager Paul Tisdale (who yesterday looked as if he had stepped out from playing crown green bowls judging from his attire).

Scott Golbourne scored the first.

Jamie Cureton scores - again. He's been a major reason for our improved showing this season.

Paul Tisdale - fresh from his bowls match.

I see that back on 21st August I wrote on this here blog that we'd finish somewhere between half way and the play-off places, falling a little short. After Saturday's results it is looking that, with Exeter on of three teams three points behind the team in that last spot and having the worst goal difference of the four teams in contention. But you never know and I would be love to be wrong!

Ryan Harley - signed by Swansea City and so might be a Premiership player next season. Not bad for someone we signed from Weston-Super-Mare. He's been terrific to watch.

Keeper Ben Hamer is officially leaving because his loan finished after this game. I reckon he might just be fed up with the players who mock him behind his back. He's been a great loan.

Exeter's final home league fixture is against local rivals Plymouth Argyle. A combination of cowardice and a family party mean we won't be going. At the time the fixtures came out there was speculation that this could be the day that Plymouth sent us down into League 2. It's not impossible that the very opposite might happen. One things for certain, both will need 3 points and it should be a cracker!