Manager full of praise for combative midfielder
Manager Paul Tisdale was full of praise for the performance of Jordan Tillson as Exeter City recorded a 3-0 win against Cheltenham Town on Tuesday night.
Jordan went into the match having only started two out of the Grecians' last 13 matches, but put in a superb performance in central midfield which helped his team banish the memories of a poor home display against Accrington Stanley at the weekend.
The victory reignited City’s automatic promotion push, with nine games of the season to go, and Tis says it is important that every player in the squad shows the same hunger and desire as Jordan if the team is going to achieve their target.
“I don’t think he (Jordan) got man-of-the-match but he was as close to it as you’ll get,” said Tis. “He was fabulous. That was the pleasing thing over these last two games. You have got players who have been given pitch-time. Pierce Sweeney and Joel Grant on Saturday and Jordan Tillson on Tuesday.
“We are going need to need the squad. It is not about flogging the same XI players to death. We are going to need a squad of players who feel they have got a chance, feel that they are appreciated and feel that they have got a part to play. And Jordan Tillson proved that point brilliantly. He took his chance with a really, really full-blooded performance.”
“It is not just about those on the pitch it is about the full dynamic of the squad,” added Tis. “Whether they play every minute of every game, whether they come off the bench or whether they play the odd game – I expect, and the team requires them, to be completely and utterly committed and hungry on the pitch. Jordan Tillson typified that and I am really pleased I selected him now. I am really pleased because he gave us a spark in that midfield that we needed.”
City won the match with two goals from Reuben Reid and a deflected strike from Jake Taylor. The 3-0 scoreline after 60 minutes made it look like a comfortable victory for the Grecians for anybody watching the last half hour of the match. However, Tis said the players had to earn that healthy position in the match.
“It was comprehensive and very competent performance,” he said. “We’ve got a deserved three points, but we earned it. It was a competitive first half an hour. Cheltenham have had a system over the last month or two that’s got them some very good results and, while the game was 0-0 or 1-0, anything can happen.
“I think it gradually came our way in the second half and, if you watch the last 20 minutes, you’d say it’s a very comfortable win, and it felt comfortable in the end but, for the first hour, it was very competitive.”