Exeter City's manager Paul Tisdale became a father for the second time on Wednesday morning, so Rob Edwards stepped into his shoes for Thursday's press call.

Rosie Tisdale was born just after 9am on Wednesday, weighing 6lbs 2ozs, but despite the new addition to his family Paul will lead the team out at the Withdean tomorrow afternoon.

"Everyone is delighted for him," Edwards said.

And talk at the press conference soon turned to the absent manager with Edwards explaining how the poor run of form has affected their boss.

"I am sure he has had a tough couple of weeks," he admitted.

"I have not been a manager myself but I know how Paul has been feeling.

"He isn't the kind of manager who chucks a lot of blame on anyone in the dressing room instead he tends to take a lot on his shoulders.

"And I have spoken to him after the last couple of games we've had and he looks at himself before he looks at anyone else and he encourages us to do that.

"It breads a healthy environment if everyone is doing their best before blaming."

The Grecians have picked up just two points from their last six games and Edwards says the players have to accept that they will come in for criticism when they aren't playing well.

"I'm sure if we can do it (stay up)there will be people patting us on the back," he said.

"They might not want to pat us on the back too much at the moment but the players are fine if the criticism is flying around, which it will do.

"As a player you have got to take it and it happens when you are not winning football matches."

A win at Brighton on Saturday would be a huge boost for the squad and Edwards believes the Grecians are confident that they will notch up another successful season.

He said: "There is a togetherness there that we are going to get the job done like we have over the last couple of years.

"We were very poor on Saturday. It was always going to be on a knife-edge but we probably expected to create a bit more than we did and maybe score a few goals.

"But the boys were very bright in training today and we are looking forward to Saturday."