Manager gives his account of victory against Tupi
Grecians manager Paul Tisdale lauded his team’s victory against a tough opponent in Tupi, played at the Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora.While most managers play down the importance of the result in pre-season, Paul was particularly pleased that the Grecians got a result that will have boosted spirits, following some excellent showings in their three games so far.
“It was very enjoyable – it was a valuable exercise and a valuable win,” said Tis. “It sounds like an odd thing to say that a win is important three games into pre-season, but it was important for us.
“We’ve played really well in three games against three really tough opponents, and to score two late goals to win the game will do us the world of good.
“We have defended extremely well over the last three games and the team is coming together, but we needed a goal – and we got it right at the end with two goals. We leave the field feeling really pleased about ourselves.”
An injury to Jordan Moore-Taylor in the early stages gave Paul some early practice at thinking on his feet and using his team adaptably after being thrown a fateful curve-ball.
But the manager was pleased with the way that the team adapted to the situation, even if the flow of football was stemmed temporarily.
The introduction of Ollie Watkins and David Wheeler on the wings gave the game a different dimension and helped add to the attacking thrust of City.
Yet it was the composed and calm play in front of goal that allowed City to earn an equaliser through Jimmy Keohane and a winner via Danny Coles, despite having been trailing to Maranhão’s close-range strike.
“In the first quarter of the game we were excellent, and in the last quarter of the game we were excellent,” he continued. “We were damaged by the early injury to Jordan Moore-Taylor because the substitutes weren’t prepared to come on other than Matt Jay and Ollie Watkins, who had been warming up early.
“The other defenders weren’t ready to come on, so I had to move three or four people around to accommodate the substitution. We lost our rhythm but we got it going again after half-time and we looked strong in the second half.
“The decisive changes were Ollie Watkins and David Wheeler coming on to play on the flanks. We changed from five to three at the back and pushed on – we left ourselves a bit open at the back but we were attacking and free-flowing and got two really good goals from patient play.
“We didn’t just kick it in there, we worked it really well – Ollie Watkins and Matt Oakley on the left-hand side were a really good partnership and Ollie got to the byline and didn’t panic. He’s a young player and picked out Jimmy Keohane for the first goal, and it was a brilliant short corner and delivery by Matt Oakley at the end for Danny Coles’ header in the last second.”