Tis expecting a tough test from John Coleman's Accrington
Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale says he is expecting a stern and interesting challenge when John Coleman brings his Accrington Stanley side to St James Park on Saturday.
Tis and John have gone up against each other numerous times down the years, with both managers having spent a long time at their respective clubs.
City have come out on top recently – winning the last two matches between the sides by two goals to one – but that does not mean Tis is expecting an easy match especially when you look at the form Stanley have been on since the turn of the year.
“We have played numerous games against Accrington and even when you are a couple of goals up you can never relax as they have always got something about them,” he said. “They have got a good record since the turn of the year. They drew recently away at Doncaster Rovers and they can be no fools if they can get a result there.
“I think we are well aware that it will be a stern test. We are at that point of the season where everyone has got something to play for still and I have to say I think it will be a very interesting game.”
City go into the match with a good recent record at home though having won five and drawn three of their last eight matches at St James Park. So, does that give the team confidence going into the Accrington game?
“Well, it’s better than having lost games at home,” said Tis. “But in the same way when you have lost a few you don’t under estimate your chances either.
“I think we just have to take a balanced, measured view on it. There is the opposition. This is our team and we think we can beat them.
“We are not perfect; they are not perfect. We have to do our best and keep to our game.
“I think it is going to be a really good game whether we have been unbeaten at home recently or not. They are a team and a manager, who are capable of making changes, utlilizing their squad, playing players out of position, changing their system, keeping their players going when they are a goal or two down and they have got enough about them that we have got to be on our guard.”
City could welcome back Christy Pym into the squad this weekend, but he will face a late fitness test on a groin injury.
Lee Holmes is still out with ankle injury he picked up in the Boxing Day game at Yeovil Town but it only three weeks away from a return, while Robbie Simpson and Tom McCready will also be missing through injury.